Engaging Communities

Communities across Northern Ireland play a vital role in hosting the infrastructure that keeps our electricity system running, ensuring everyone gets the electricity they need, when they need it.

Our Engaging Communities document provides a clear framework for how we will work with communities to ensure people’s views, local knowledge and lived experience can help shape plans from the earliest stages.

We will be clear about where communities can influence plans and transparent about how their feedback has been considered. Where this is not possible, we will be open and honest about why.

We use a three-part process to developing projects to improve the grid. You'll see these steps mentioned across our project plans. They indicate how far along we are in a project and how we engage with you.

SONI have partnered with Involve, the UK's leading public participation charity, who will independently facilitate community forums, where those affected by plans to develop the grid in their local area can be involved at a deeper level than traditional consultation methods allow. 

By including more deliberative methods of engagement into our grid development processes, our teams can better understand the concerns of local communities at the earliest stages, helping to build trust with those who live closest to new infrastructure which can in turn contribute to positive and timely planning outcomes.

By planning ahead and developing the power grid, we help the Northern Ireland economy to grow and develop. We want to work with you to make that happen. Our landowner charter details our commitment to landowners throughout the development process.

When developing the grid, we recognise the importance of engaging with landowners as early and as often as possible. That is why we have a dedicated landowner engagement team. They are available to discuss your concerns, including:

Grid improvements often need major infrastructure – transmission stations, underground cables and overhead lines. Our goal is to find the best possible solution. Your input makes a real difference.

Every project has its own consultation process. We offer information on the need for the project and give you a chance to share your opinions.