A multi-million-pound power struggle at Perth’s Bertha Park has finally been resolved.
Owners of the 820-acre plot had demanded SSE remove six huge pylons to make way for a 3,000 house expansion.
The Perth-based power firm was due to argue its case at a public inquiry in the city on Monday morning.
The company has confirmed, just days before the hearing, both sides have agreed a settlement which allows the structures to stay in place.
SSE and landowner Andrew Ritchie made a joint plea to the Scottish Government to abandon its inquiry, and grant a six-week sist to finalise the agreement.
SSE had earlier argued dismantling and replacing the overhead power line would cost customers more than £20 million.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “The existing electricity transmission infrastructure at Bertha Park is required to maintain reliable electricity supplies to homes and businesses in the surrounding area.
“Following a request from the landlord to remove the transmission line at Bertha Park, we made an application to Scottish Ministers under the Electricity Act 1989 for a necessary wayleave to retain the existing transmission line.”
He said: “This was to protect electricity consumers from the significant costs associated with the removal of the line and subsequent need to identify and install a suitable alternative supply. We can confirm that this matter has now been resolved and the existing line and infrastructure will remain in place.”
In documents setting out his original argument, Mr Ritchie claimed the overhead line was “sterilising a large corridor of prime development land and is reducing the value of adjacent land.”
Setting out its case, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission – the SSE department responsible for maintaining the country’s power line network – said the cost of moving the line underground would be about £12.5 million.
This sum didn’t include the price of any operations to place cables under the River Almond.
If a longer underground cable was needed to avoid the Bertha Park site, the cost of the project would be at least £21 million.
The Scottish Government, which was asked to investigate the case in May last year, confirmed that Monday’s inquiry had been cancelled.
The hearing, which was intended to explore the potential impact on development at Berth Park, was due to end with a visit to the site.
Springfield Properties has started work on its £1 billion estate. The project has brought 30 years of work for housebuilders and approximately 450 jobs.
The site will also be home to Bertha Park School, the country’s newest secondary school, as well as shops, health services, restaurants and community facilities.
