en.Wedoany.com Reported - SSEN Transmission has announced an investment of over £17 million to build 50 new homes in partnership with the Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP), as part of its corporate housing strategy aimed at delivering 1,000 homes for worker accommodation in the north of Scotland transmission region.
The project is located at Melbost West, east of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, adjacent to MacKenzie Park, and forms part of Phase 1 of HHP's social housing development, which plans a total of 73 homes. Of these, 23 are scheduled to be directly allocated to community residents upon completion in 2029; the remaining homes will be converted into permanent social housing stock in the area once SSEN Transmission's Lewis Hub and related works are finished. During construction, 50 homes will be used to accommodate workers building the new infrastructure, with property types including single-story and two-story semi-detached houses.
The Lewis Hub is a major clean energy project that received planning permission from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) last November. The project will, for the first time, connect the Western Isles to the UK transmission network, bringing economic benefits to the local area and supporting national energy security and clean energy goals.
SSEN Transmission has also disclosed other housing initiatives on the Isle of Lewis: supporting the construction of up to 94 affordable homes at the Stornoway Airport housing development in Branahuie, facilitating collaboration between local company CalMax Construction and Tighean Innse Gall (TIG), with SSEN Transmission providing funding for the initial works and discussing potential funding for subsequent phases; refurbishing the Caledonian Hotel in Stornoway, which is being brought back into use for the first time in over a decade due to the Lewis Hub project; and announcing other housing plans for communities in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and Angus.
Dena Macleod, Chief Executive of the Hebridean Housing Partnership, said that when SSEN Transmission first approached them about the project, they were very willing to collaborate because it would bring lasting benefits to the island community. She noted that major infrastructure projects often only deliver short-term benefits, but this partnership ensures value will be generated years after the project's completion—when SSEN Transmission no longer needs the homes at Melbost West, these properties will be made available to key workers at affordable rents or through low-cost home ownership, helping to increase the working population. Through collaboration, key energy infrastructure leaves a lasting "bricks and mortar" legacy for the islands, strengthening communities, supporting economic activity, and helping more people access safe, affordable housing close to work and services.
Sandy Mactaggart, SSEN Transmission's Offshore Delivery Director, said that upgrading the grid is not only necessary for achieving national energy security and clean electricity but also leaves lasting benefits for local communities, including a permanent housing legacy and community welfare funds. He cited examples such as people immediately gaining new social housing upon completion, with 50 homes available for use after the local project finishes. In places like the Western Isles, SSEN Transmission is committed to finding solutions that benefit both the community and national infrastructure, protecting local tourism by increasing capacity to accommodate the workforce—such as funding new homes and reopening the Caledonian Hotel. The lack of housing for local people is a major issue in many communities, and this housing strategy demonstrates creative solutions through collaboration with HHP and other organizations, which can deliver new homes and serve as a template for other developers.
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