We are supporting National Grid’s Visual Impact Provision project to reduce the visual impacts of existing electricity lines, but plans for new lines risk creating new problems.

We are on the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the Visual Impact Provision project. It advises National Grid on how best to mitigate the impact of their existing network of high-voltage electricity lines in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). However, we have concerns that the good practice approaches emerging from this project are not being replicated in the plans for new lines that National Grid is planning.

We believe that as far as possible overhead electricity lines should be avoided in the most precious parts of our countryside such as National Parks and AONBs by routing lines elsewhere —  including offshore — or burying the lines. If some new overhead lines do have to be installed, we are pressing National Grid to ensure this is done in the least damaging manner. We are also urging the Government regulator Ofgem to support the approach to avoid overhead lines in the most sensitive areas and prevent lasting damage to them.

Find out more

Curbing the pylons
 Visual impact provision project
 North west coast connections project
 Hinkley Point C connection project