National Grid has published its new approach to the design and routeing of new electricity transmission Lines.
We carried out a consultation between December 2010 and July 2011 on a new approach to undergrounding. The published Approach to the Design and Routeing of New Electricity Transmission Lines has been informed by the responses we received to this consultation.
You can view the Undergrounding Consultation Report for details of feedback on the responses we received to our consultation, and how we have used that advice to further develop our new Approach.
For further information please see Frequently Asked Questions.
Our consultation process: and how you can tell us what you think
We will always consult widely to give everyone a say, in line with national planning guidelines.
In particular, we actively seek input from local communities, technical stakeholders and local authorities. This ensures that we obtain a full range of perspectives to feed into our plans.
We will be open with information and about how we have used this all the inputs to inform our judgements.
There are several stages to this consultation process and as we go through these stages we gradually narrow down the options in light of feedback from stakeholders.
Finally, we make our submission to the determining body (at present, the Infrastructure Planning Commission) who make the final decision on whether we have found the appropriate balance between minimising the visual impact of new transmission lines and keeping costs down for consumers.
The process is explained in more detail in our new approach document: National Grid’s Approach to the Design and Routeing of New Electricity Transmission Lines.
Our new approach aims to help us strike a balance in meeting the needs of all those affected by our infrastructure works, and we will strive to make sure we provide acceptable solutions to as many as possible.
To connect new energy sources, our network needs to be built somewhere and in these austere times, we must spend consumers' money carefully on solutions such as undergrounding, while balancing that with preserving visual amenity and the environment where we live.
Our revised approach will help us work with stakeholders and communities to provide the best solutions we can, so the country's energy security is maintained over the coming decades.
If you would like to contact the undergrounding consultation team directly, please get in touch:
Call: 0800 319 6175
Email: info@nationalgridundergrounding.com
Write: National Grid Undergrounding Consultation
FREEPOST NAT3717
London
SE1 2BR
How will the new approach inform major infrastructure projects that are already underway?
Our new approach document sets out the process that we will use to take these projects forward: the stages of consultation; the people and organisations that we will consult with, and; the way in which we will appraise and narrow down the options. As part of this process, we will work with stakeholders and communities on how best to mitigate visual impacts, including identifying any areas where undergrounding of each new route should take place.
Further information