Cotswolds VIP update: submission of Compulsory Purchase Order

This work will make use of a funding provision that National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc (NGET)'s economic regulator, Ofgem, has made available to help reduce the landscape and visual impacts of existing electricity transmission lines in National Parks and National Landscapes in England and Wales. These funds have been made available by Ofgem in response to requests from stakeholders and feedback received from the public. 

This section of line was identified by an independent landscape study as having landscape impacts of high importance.  In 2020, it was recommended by the VIP project’s national Stakeholder Advisory Group that the Cotswolds VIP project should be a priority project. 

NGET has agreed with stakeholders that the best way to achieve the intended landscape enhancements in this location is to remove the existing section of overhead line and replace it with electricity cables buried underground.

To ensure that the works can be completed within the timescales required under the scheme, NGET needs to acquire the necessary land and rights required to deliver the project. 

As part of this, NGET made a Compulsory Purchase Order (the Order) on 8 April 2025 which will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for confirmation. 

Below you’ll find the formal Notice of Making and a number of documents related to the Order can be accessed here: https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/cotswolds-project/document-library

Those who have land interests in the project area have been contacted directly. If you have any questions please contact the team by email ([email protected]) or calling 0330 134 0051. 

The National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc (Cotswolds Visual Impact Provision Project) 

Compulsory Purchase Order 2025

Compulsory Purchase of Land and New Rights in the Cotswolds National Landscape

1. Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc has made The National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc (Cotswolds Visual Impact Provision Project) Compulsory Purchase Order 2025 on 8 April 2025 under Section 10 of and paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to The Electricity Act 1989. It is about to submit this order to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for confirmation, and if confirmed, the order will authorise National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc to purchase compulsorily the land and the new rights described below for the purpose of replacing approximately 7 kilometres of the existing overhead electricity line and 16 pylons in the Cotswolds National Landscape with an underground cable and associated terminal pylons and sealing end compounds, together with related works to facilitate delivery of the Cotswolds Visual Impact Provision Project and the subsequent transmission of electricity.
    
2. A copy of the Order, accompanying map, statement of reasons and privacy notice have been deposited at the following locations and may be seen during the hours listed below;
    
3. Any objection to the order must be made in writing to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero at [email protected] before 29 May 2025 and should state the title of the order, the grounds of objection and the objector's address and interests in the land. 
    

A copy of the order and accompanying maps, Statement of Reasons and documents referred to in the Statement of Reasons may be viewed online at: https://nationalgrid.com/cotswoldsvip

Description of Land and New Rights

LAND TO BE ACQUIRED

Land at Whitley Golf Course east of Corsham Road, B3353 and south of Westlands Lane); Land south of River Isbourne and east of Postlip; and land south of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm.
 

NEW RIGHTS TO BE ACQUIRED

Access Rights over;

land south of Cheltenham Road, B4632 and west of Dry Ground Farm; land at Postlip Mills south of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land north of River Isbourne and south of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land at Postlip Mills and north of River Isbourne; land south of River Isbourne and south of Postlip House; land east of River Isbourne; land south of River Isbourne and west of Corndean Hall; land north of Breakheart Plantation and west of Corndean Hall; land east of Breakheart Plantation and west of Hill Barr Farm; land north of Hill Barn Farm and east of Breakheart Plantation; land north of Wontley Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land north and east of Wontley Farm and south of Breakheart Plantation; land north of Wontley Farm and south Breakheart Plantation; land south and west of Wontley Farm and north of West Down; land west of Westwood House and north of West Wood; land west of Charlton Abbotts Manor and east of West Wood; land west of Charlton Abbotts Manor and north of Hanks Gorse; land north of Drypool Farm and west of West Down; land east of Drypool Farm and north of Puckham Woods; land at The Dingle west of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land south of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land south of Drypool Farm and west of Puckham Woods; land south of Puckham Woods and west of Cedar House Woodlands; land south of Warren Farm and north of Puckham Farms; land east of Puckham Farm and south of Warren Farm; land north of Arle Grove and east of Cotswolds Way; land east of Arle Grove and west of Whalley Farm; land east of Wood Farm and west of Whittington House; land at Ham Road; land south of Ham Road and west of Whittington House; land south of Ham Road and north of London Road, A40; land south of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm; land north of London Road, A40 and west of Dowdeswell Reservoir; land west of London Road, A40 and north of The Barlands; land north of London Road, A40 and west of The Barlands; land south of London Road, A40 and east of Whithorne; land south of London Road, A40 and east and west of Redwood; land at Westlands Lane; land south of Westlands Lane and east of Westlands Farm; and land at Whitley Golf Course east of Corsham Road, B3353 and south of Westlands Lane.
 

Construction Compound Rights over;

land at Cheltenham Road, B4632; land south of Cheltenham Road, B4632 and west of Dry Ground Farm; land at Dry Ground Farm and south of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land south of Cheltenham Road, B4632 and west of Postlip Mills; private road north of River Isbourne and south of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land north of River Isbourne and west of Dan Deri; land at Postlip Mills and north of River Isbourne; land south of River Isbourne and east of Postlip; land east of River Isbourne and west of Postlip Mills; land south of River Isbourne and west of Corndean; land south of River Isbourne and north of Breakheart Plantation; land south of Hill Barn Farm and east of Breakheart Plantation; land south of Hill Barn Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land north and west of Wontley Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land at Wontley Farm; land north of Drypool Farm and west of West Down; land north of Arle Grove and east of Cotswolds Way; land west of Arle Grove and south of Cotswolds Way; land south of Arle Grove and west of Whalley Farm; land north of London Road, A40 and south of Whittington House; land at London Road, A40; land east of Ham Hill Farm North and north of Ham Road; and land south of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm.
 

Electricity Infrastructure Construction Rights over;

land south of River Isbourne and north and west of Corndean; land south of River Isbourne and north and east of Breakheart Plantation; land south of River Isbourne and west of Corndean Hall; land north of Breakheart Plantation and west of Corndean Hall; land west of Breakheart Plantation and south of Corndean Hall; land east of Briarwood and north of Hill Barn Farm; land north and west of Hill Barn Farm and east of Breakheart Plantation; land north of Wontley Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land west of Wontley Farm and south of Cleeve Common; land at Wontley Farm; land south of Wontley Farm and west of West Down; land west of West Down and north of Drypool Farm; land west and south of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land west of Puckham Farm and east of Cleeve Common;  land west of Puckham Farm and east of Cotswolds Way; land north of Arle Grove and east of Cotswolds Way; land south of Cotswolds Way and west of Whalley Farm; land at Colgate Farm north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm North; land north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm; and land at Ham Road.
 

High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) Rights over;

land south of River Isbourne and north and west of Corndean; land south of River Isbourne and north and east of Breakheart Plantation; land south of River Isbourne and west of Corndean Hall; land north of Breakheart Plantation and west of Corndean Hall; land west of Breakheart Plantation and south of Corndean Hall; land east of Briarwood and north of Hill Barn Farm; land north and west of Hill Barn Farm and east of Breakheart Plantation; land north of Wontley Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land west of Wontley Farm and south of Cleeve Common; land at Wontley Farm; land south of Wontley Farm and west of West Down; land west of West Down and north of Drypool Farm; land west and south of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land west of Puckham Farm and east of Cleeve Common;  land west of Puckham Farm and east of Cotswolds Way; land north of Arle Grove and east of Cotswolds Way; land south of Cotswolds Way and west of Whalley Farm; land at Colgate Farm north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm North; land north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm; land at Ham Road; land at Dowdeswell Wood south of Ham Road and east of Middle Colgate Farm; land at Dowdeswell Wood west of London Road, A40 and east of Wellinghill View; land west of London Road, A40 and north of The Barlands; land north of London Road, A40 and east of The Barlands; land at London Road, A40; land north and south of London Road, A40 and east of Whithorne; land south of London Road, A40 and west of Redwood; and land north of London Road, A40 and south of the River Chelt.
 

Overhead Line Rights over;

land at Cockbury Butts Farm north of Langley Road and west of Langley Stables; land south of Langley Road and north of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land at Cheltenham Road, B4632; land south of Cheltenham Road, B4632 and west of Dry Ground Farm; land at Postlip Mills south of Cheltenham Road, B4632 and south of River Isbourne; land at Dry Ground Farm south of Cheltenham Road, B4632; land north of River Isbourne and south of Dry Ground Farm; land at River Isbourne; land west of Dan Deri and south of River Isbourne; land south of River Isbourne and north of Corndean; land north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm; land at Ham Road; land south of Ham Road and east of Upper Colgate Farm and Middle Colgate Farm); land at Dowdeswell Wood south of Ham Road and east of Middle Colgate Farm; land west of London Road, A40 and east of Wellinghill View; land west of London Road, A40 and north of The Barlands; land south of London Road, A40 and east of Redwood; and land west of Lineover Wood and south of London Road, A40.
 

Overhead Line Removal Rights over;

land south of River Isbourne and east of Postlip; land south of River Isbourne and north and west of Corndean; land south of River Isbourne and north of Breakheart Plantation; land at Breakheart Plantation; land east of Briarwood and north of Hill Barr Farm; land east of Breakheart Plantation and west of Hill Barr Farm; land north and south of Hill Barn Farm and east of Breakheart Plantation; land south of Hill Barn Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land north of Wontley Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land east of Wontley Farm and south of Breakheart Plantation; land east and west of Wontley Farm and north of West Down; land south of Wontley Farm and north of West Down; land north of Drypool Farm and west of West Down; land north of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land north of Puckham Woods and west of West Down; land south of Drypool Farm and east of Cleeve Common; land east and south of Drypool Farm and west of Puckham Woods; land south of Drypool Farm and west of Cedar House Woodlands Farm; land west and north of Puckham Farm and east of Cotswolds Way; land north of Arle Grove and east of Cotswolds Way; land east and south of Arle Grove and west of Whalley Farm; land east of Arle Grove and south of Cotswolds Way; land east of Ham Hill Farm North and north of Ham Road; land north of Ham Road and east of Ham Hill Farm; and land at Ham Road.

National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc