WAYLEAVES – LET’S BE CLEAR

A “necessary wayleave” is NOT approval of the project and it is NOT a safety sign-off.

A necessary wayleave is simply a legal mechanism under the Electricity Act that SSEN can rely on only when voluntary agreement has not been reached.
It is limited in scope and time and does not override wider statutory duties.

Landowners need to understand this clearly:

A necessary wayleave is procedural – it is not a judgment on whether the line is lawful, safe, or appropriate
It does not grant planning consent – that remains with Scottish Ministers and may still go to Public Inquiry
It does not remove SSEN’s obligations under health & safety law, CDM regulations, or electrical safety requirements
Landowners retain the right to object, appeal, and be heard
Compensation, land sterilisation, and operational impacts are not settled by a wayleave notice
The sheer volume of wayleave applications being lodged simply shows that voluntary agreement has not been secured

If you’ve received a wayleave notice:
Do not ignore it — but equally, do not assume the matter is “done”.
This is exactly the stage where independent advice and collective engagement matter most.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Protect your land and your rights.