Residents in Peterhead and surrounding areas are being urged to apply for a share of a community benefit fund delivered as part of the UK’s biggest ever electricity transmission project.
The deadline to apply for a slice of the £2 million Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) Peterhead Local Fund is 12 June.
The fund aims to deliver more than £400,000 a year over five years to support local initiatives.
The funding is intended to support projects and initiatives covering several priority areas that have been shaped by input from the local community.
SSEN Transmission is currently recruiting local people to join a panel that will oversee funding decisions, and is inviting applications ahead of the deadline on 30 May.
EGL2 is a 525kV, 2GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable from Peterhead to Drax in Yorkshire delivered as a joint venture by SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET).
The fund marks the latest step in progress on the £4.3 billion project, which is due for completion in 2029.
Priorities for the fund have been identified in consultation with the local community and include education, employment and skills; protection and enhancement of the natural environment; transport and connectivity; community infrastructure and regeneration; heritage and culture, and community action planning and capacity building.
A separate micro-grant scheme will see five local community councils each award £4,319 a year over five years to any projects that benefit the local community, up to the value of £500.
These grants are designed to provide immediate support, for example, to help the high number of youth groups and other third sector organisations within Peterhead and the surrounding area.
EGL2 project director from SSEN Transmission Ricky Saez said: “With construction underway on EGL2, the launch of our EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund is another significant milestone in this project that will bring economic benefit to Peterhead and surrounding communities, throughout the construction phase and beyond.
“We have had strong interest in the fund since its launch in April, and urge anyone considering applying to the fund to send their expression of interest before the deadline on Thursday, 12 June. Similarly, we are asking anyone interested in joining the local panel overseeing funding decisions to submit their interest by Friday, 30 May.
“This fund has been shaped by input from the local community to prioritise projects that can have a transformational impact, underlining our determination that EGL2 delivers a strong legacy for communities and for the country.
“It is vitally important that local people engage with us on how the fund can best support local initiatives, and we are looking forward to hearing ideas that ensure that funding meets the needs of communities in Peterhead.”
Picture: Work is underway to deliver a new HVDC converter station at Boddam near Peterhead as part of the Eastern Green Link 2 project