Backing in principle for SSEN Transmission's Lewis Hub

The project would support a sub-sea cable delivering power from wind farms to the Scottish mainland

Councillors have recommended that energy firm SSEN Transmission be granted planning permission in principle for its Lewis Hub in the Western Isles.

The project has been proposed for a site near Stornoway and is part of plans to lay a sub-sea cable to Scotland's mainland to deliver power generated by island wind farms.

The cable was first proposed almost 20 years ago.

A full meeting of islands authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will consider the planning application, and recommendation, on Wednesday.

A report to the comhairle's planning applications board this week said almost 800 people made representations on the proposals.

Nearly all of them opposed the development, and cited concerns including around increased heavy traffic and the suitability of the hub's location on Arnish Moor.

Other objections included concerns about visual impacts and the project's effect on tourism.

But the officers' report concluded that subject to conditions the proposal complied with the comhairle's development plan.

Among the conditions attached to the board's recommendation for planning consent was the provision of a "wear and tear" agreement.

This would require the developer to repair any damage to the local road network attributable to construction-related traffic.

Earlier this month SSEN Transmission said it was investing in the construction of 100 new homes in Stornoway for workers on the Lewis Hub project.

Additional reporting by local democracy journalist Peter Urpeth.