- Consultation launched on new planning policy for
undergrounding-first approach to new 11-132kV electricity lines.
- Welsh Government committed to ending use of large steel
lattice pylons for devolved electricity lines.
- Infrastructure needs to be sensitively designed to minimise
impacts on environment and communities.
A consultation has been launched on a new planning policy in
Wales for an undergrounding-first approach to new 11-132kV
electricity lines.
The change would deliver the Welsh Government's commitment to
ending the use of large steel lattice pylons for devolved
electricity lines in Wales.
The consultation seeks views on how best to implement the change,
with consideration of the design and operation of the policy.
Under the policy overhead alternatives would be permitted only
where certain planning tests are met and installation is via low
wooden poles or equivalent, less intrusive infrastructure.
The electricity grid is a critical enabler of the Welsh
Government's ambitions as Wales transitions to a low-carbon
future.
Ensuring there is clean, secure and affordable electricity to
power our homes, businesses and transport now and for future
generations is vital.
The Welsh Government also wants to appropriately balance
environmental, community and economic interests.
Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, , said:
We're delivering on our manifesto commitment to end the use of
steel lattice pylons and ensuring the default position for new
electricity lines in Wales are underground.
The transition to a low-carbon energy system is central to our
ambition to reach net zero by 2040 and to deliver our
productivity mission.
We know the necessary changes in the way energy is generated and
used in Wales will require new grid infrastructure, however we
also know that new infrastructure can impact on the communities
and the environment that hosts it.
We want to see infrastructure that is sensitively designed to
minimise impacts on the environment and the communities that host
them, while offering the maximum benefits for Wales.
Notes to editors
https://www.gov.wales/new-underground-first-policy-11-132-kv-electricity-lines-wales
