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National Grid to remove electricity pylons from protected landscapes to improve view National Grid to remove electricity pylons from protected landscapes
(35 minutes later)
Four protected landscapes are to be transformed by removing the electricity pylons and overhead lines that scar the view, under plans unveiled by National Grid.Four protected landscapes are to be transformed by removing the electricity pylons and overhead lines that scar the view, under plans unveiled by National Grid.
Funding of £500m will go to reducing the visual impact of stretches of high-voltage transmission lines in the New Forest, Peak District and Snowdonia national parks and Dorset area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), by replacing a total of 45 pylons with underground cables. Funding of £500m will go to reducing the visual impact of stretches of high-voltage transmission lines by replacing a total of 45 pylons with underground cables in three national parks – near Hale in the New Forest, near Dunford Bridge in the Peak District and near Porthmadog in Snowdonia – and the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) near Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset.
The four schemes have been prioritised from 12 sections of electricity lines in eight national parks and AONBs across England and Wales which were considered to have the most significant impact on protected landscapes.The four schemes have been prioritised from 12 sections of electricity lines in eight national parks and AONBs across England and Wales which were considered to have the most significant impact on protected landscapes.
Landscapes in the Brecon Beacons national park and High Weald, North Wessex Downs and Tamar Valley AONBs were not prioritised for a share of the £500m allowance made available by regulator Ofgem up to 2021.Landscapes in the Brecon Beacons national park and High Weald, North Wessex Downs and Tamar Valley AONBs were not prioritised for a share of the £500m allowance made available by regulator Ofgem up to 2021.
Environmentalist Chris Baines, who chaired the stakeholder group of conservation organisations which advised the National Grid on which transmission lines to prioritise, said some difficult decisions had to be made.Environmentalist Chris Baines, who chaired the stakeholder group of conservation organisations which advised the National Grid on which transmission lines to prioritise, said some difficult decisions had to be made.
Related: These new electricity pylons will make Britain a duller place | Flash BristowRelated: These new electricity pylons will make Britain a duller place | Flash Bristow
He said: “Reducing the visual impact of pylons and power lines in our most precious landscapes is highly desirable, but it is also very expensive and technically complex so we have had to make some difficult decisions.He said: “Reducing the visual impact of pylons and power lines in our most precious landscapes is highly desirable, but it is also very expensive and technically complex so we have had to make some difficult decisions.
“Although four schemes have been prioritised, none of the locations on our original shortlist have been dropped and they will remain under consideration for future work to reduce the impact of National Grid’s transmission lines under the vision impact provision project.”“Although four schemes have been prioritised, none of the locations on our original shortlist have been dropped and they will remain under consideration for future work to reduce the impact of National Grid’s transmission lines under the vision impact provision project.”
Hector Pearson, from National Grid, said: “This is a unique stakeholder-driven project, and it continues to represent a major opportunity to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, cultural and environmental heritage of some areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks.” Hector Pearson, from National Grid, said: “This is a unique stakeholder-driven project and it continues to represent a major opportunity to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, cultural and environmental heritage of some areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks.”
Different ways of reducing the impact in the locations has been considered, but replacing existing overhead lines with underground cables has generally proved to the preferred option technically and in discussion with local stakeholders, National Grid said. National Grid said different ways of reducing the impact in the locations had been considered, but replacing existing overhead lines with underground cables had generally proved to the preferred option technically and in discussion with local stakeholders.
National Grid will also use £24m of the £500m for smaller localised projects to improve landscape views and reduce the visual impact of existing electricity structure in national parks and AONBs. The utility company will use £24m of the £500m for smaller projects to improve views and reduce the visual impact of existing electricity structure in national parks and AONBs.
The four stretches of line which have been prioritised are: