Shared Rural Network: wild places need you!

Help keep an eye on plans for improved network connectivity in Scotland to ensure it is delivered in a way which benefits communities and protects wild places like Glen Affric, pictured here. 

We have significant concerns about the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network programme. We believe it could threaten wild places whilst failing to provide any meaningful benefits for rural communities or businesses.

Several organisations have signed up to our position statement. Written with Mountaineering Scotland, it sets out the issues we have identified with the programme and proposes policy solutions.

We will continue to monitor planning applications for Shared Rural Network (SRN) masts (and object where we believe they threaten wild places) but we need your help to ensure that improved network connectivity in rural Scotland is delivered in a way which benefits communities and businesses and protects our precious wild places. 

To understand the full impact of what is being proposed you can see a map of the 262 masts currently being proposed here.

How you can help

Below is a list of the current SRN masts proposed within Wild Land Areas across Scotland. If you have experience of any of the wild places where masts are being proposed your contribution would be invaluable.

From our experience, it seems that planning applications which receive public comments and objections are often withdrawn by the Operator.

All you need to do is:

1. follow the link to the Planning Authority’s planning portal in the table;
2. search for the planning application reference; and
3. comment on the application.

Ref.	Description	Planning Authority	Planning Reference	Deadline	Status	Trust action
1	Morvich	Highland Council	23/04108/FUL	23.10.23	Withdrawn	Objected
2	Attadale	Highland Council	23/04209/FUL	26.10.23	Application	Objected
3	Glenfinnan	Highland Council	23/04626/FUL	24.10.23	Application	Withdrawn
4	Glen Affric	Highland Council	23/04722/FUL	24.10.23	Withdrawn	Objected
5	Glen Lyon	Perth & Kinross	23/01634/PNT	3.11.23	Approved
6	Glenmoriston	Highland Council	23/04204/TPNO	25.10.23	Withdrawn
7	Lochailort	Highland Council	23/01466/TPNO	31.10.23	Withdrawn
8	Glen Affric (2)	Highland Council	23/04716/FUL	23.10.23	Withdrawn	Objected
9	Torridon	Highland Council	23/04138/FUL	23.11.23	Withdrawn	Objected
10	Glen Cannich	Highland Council	23/04957/FUL	7.12.23	Withdrawn	Objected
11	Rannoch	Perth & Kinross	23/01656/PAT	13.12.23	Prior approval refused	Objected
12	Loch Ericht	Perth & Kinross	23/01775/PAT	4.12.23	Approved	Objected
13	Loch Ericht (2)	Perth & Kinross	23/01778/PAT	4.12.23	Approved	Objected
14	Loch Ericht(3)	Perth & Kinross	23/01781/PAT	4.12.23	Approved	Objected
15	Roy Bridge (1)	Highland Council	23/05347/FUL	24.1.24	Application
16	Roy Bridge (2)	Highland Council	23/05323/FUL	24.1.24	Application
17	Burnside	Highland Council	24/00348/FUL	7.3.24	Application	Objected
18	Kinlochleven	Highland Council	23/05603/FUL	11.3.24	Application
19	Glen Nevis	Highland Council	23/05688/FUL	1.3.24	Application	Objected
20	Water of Nevis	Highland Council	23/05699/FUL	1.3.24	Application	Objected
21	Ghillies Bothy	Highland Council	23/05895/TPNO	1.3.24	Prior Notification
22	Millard Fersit	Highland Council	23/05896/FUL	1.3.24	Application	Objected
23	Ski Centre, Glencoe	Highland Council	24/00289/FUL	5.3.24	Application
24	Station House,  Corrour	Highland Council	24/00172/TPNO	4.3.24	Prior Notification	Objected
25	Kinlochmore Cottage	Highland Council	23/06013/FUL	11.3.24	Application	Objected
26	Corrour Lodge	Highland Council	24/00979/TPNO	12.4.24	Application	Objected
27	Near Luibeilt	Highland Council	23/05706/FUL	28.4.24	Application	Objected
28	Glen Affric (3)	Highland Council	24/01181/FUL	23.4.24	Application	Objected
29	Loch Affric	Highland Council	24/01186/FUL	29.4.24	Application	Objected
30	Lochmore Lodge	Highland Council	24/01226/TPNO	25.4.24	Application	Objected
31	Tigh Annag Glencalvie	Highland Council	24/01014/FUL	10.5.24	Application
32	Allt Shallainn Hydro Scheme	Perth & Kinross	24/00520/PNT	10.5.24	Application

(Updated 1.5.24) 

In addition to the masts listed above, RSPB Scotland has brought to our attention two proposals for masts which, if they are constructed, will harm designated sites, wildlife, peaty soils and landscape. One is the consented mast at Forsinard (Highland Planning Application number, 22/03613/FUL). The other is a proposal for a mast at Ryvoan, Abernethy, which is not yet at planning application stage. 

The SRN developers have now agreed to notify us of proposed masts at pre-application stage to help us manage the tight deadlines for the applications. We will try to keep an up to date list of these pre-application notifications below. Please note that as these aren't full applications yet there is limited information available. 

Pre-application notifications

Name	Location	Planning Authority	Co-ordinates
Camusrory Estate	East of Camusrory, Coire na Cuairtich, Camusrory Estate, Loch Nevis	Highland Council	E:188486 N:797062
Meoble Lodges	Meoble Lodges, Meoble, Meoble Estate, Morar, Mallaig	Highland Council	E:180138 N:788207
Sourlies Bothy	Mam na Cloich Airde, Glen Dessary Estate, Loch Nevis	Highland Council	E: 88386 N:794930

(Updated 10.4.24) 

Keep an eye on this page as we are going to keep this list updated as more applications are submitted.

Please let us know if you have responded to a planning application by sharing on social media and tagging The John Muir Trust and Mountaineering Scotland or by writing to policy@johnmuirtrust.org.