EHG4909 - DBA & walkover survey - Fort Augustus to Skye-T 132 kV Reinforcement Project

A besk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by ASH Design and Assessment in 2013 in advance of a proposed 132 kV overhead transmission line (OHL) to provide transmission network reinforcement to allow additional generation capacity to be developed on the Isle of Skye. The proposed connection, called Fort Augustus to Skye-T 132 kV Reinforcement Project, would comprise 7 km of new 132 kV wood pole overhead line between the Skye-Tee off point on the Fort Augustus – Fort William West 132 kV circuit near Invergarry to Fort Augustus Substation. The last 1.5 km of the connection approaching the substation would be by underground cable. The field survey was carried out in November 2013 and targeted areas of recorded archaeological sites including Site 17 (Auchterawe burial ground), Site 19 (Auchterawe Farm) and Site 20-23 (features at Dail a’Chauirn and Achadh nan Darach). The study identified six locations where the proposed overhead line would potentially impact directly; three non-designated sites and three previously unrecorded minor archaeological features identified during fieldwork. The evidence from this evaluation was that direct impacts of the proposed development on the archaeological record would be low with one local interest feature (Site 26) being directly impacted by the construction of the cabling works and possibly bridge construction. In addition, ground disturbance as a result of the proposed laydown area and underground cabling works, in the field adjacent to the burial ground had the potential to impact sub-surface features or deposits associated with the burial ground and chapel site and a possible wider area of relict prehistoric burial mounds/cairns. However, it was considered that the small impact would be to an acceptable level assuming the suggested mitigation measures were adopted. <1>