Central Scotland 400kV Upgrade (XL Route) Data via plota.co.uk

Pending ECU00006463 - Development
Utility infrastructure
Council
Energy Consents Unit (Scottish Government)
Date received
23 Sept 2026
Type
Development

Description

Increase the operating voltage of the 10.5km long section of overhead line between the downleads at tower XL001A, grid reference and mid span beyond XL033 at Blairingone, grid reference , from 275 to 400 kilovolts (kV) to enable an increase in its capacity; Reconductor (i.e. changing the wires) between towers XL12 and XL20 as part of increasing the operating voltage of XL route; Construct four new overhead line towers to turn in and connect XL route to the proposed Kincardine North Substation; Remove one existing overhead line tower (XL05); and Install temporary masts to divert one circuit of XL route to enable construction of towers and removal of existing tower. Associated access works, scaffolding, working areas, laydown areas and pulling positions for conductors. Data via plota.co.uk

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Last checked

Decision outlook

Plota predicts a decision between 18 Nov 2026 and 27 Nov 2026, from recent full applications across the UK.

Day 35 of the 56-day target. Councils usually decide full applications by day 56.

Day 3521 days to the 56-day target
51%decided within 8 weeks
87%approved
143,608decided in the last year

Plota live figures for full applications decided across the UK in the last twelve months, from validation; too few recent full applications in Energy Consents Unit (Scottish Government) to go on. Energy Consents Unit (Scottish Government) decision record →

Site constraints 2

Flood zone 3, rivers and sea
High chance: a 1 in 100 or greater annual chance from rivers, or 1 in 200 from the sea. Any development here needs a flood risk assessment. Defences are not counted.
The Environment Agency flood map for planning. Homes in zone 3 must also pass the sequential test. Surface water flooding is a separate map.
Flood map ↗
Coal mining development high risk area
Recorded coal mining features at or near the surface. Most planning applications here need a coal mining risk assessment.
From the Mining Remediation Authority, formerly the Coal Authority. The development high risk area marks recorded coal mining features at or near the surface: mine shafts and adits, shallow workings, mine gas and former opencast sites. Most planning applications there need a coal mining risk assessment; householder applications, changes of use and some minor works are exempt. Mine entry positions come from old plans and can be out by several metres, and unrecorded workings can exist anywhere in the coalfield.
Coal mining risk assessments ↗
Not affected
No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 20 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Mining Remediation Authority and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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