New pylon design welcome, but power cables best left buried
As Energy Secretary Chris Huhne prepares to announce the shortlist of a pylon design competition at the V&A Museum as part of the London Design Festival. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) maintain that the best place for energy cables in our most valued landscapes is underground, not strung between intrusive pylons.
Tom Leveridge, Senior Energy Campaigner for CPRE says: This competition demonstrates that Ministers and National Grid are starting to think more creatively about how we can reduce the impact that ugly pylons have on our beautiful landscapes. But, however well designed, pylons are still an unwelcome and disruptive addition to Englands rural landscape.
We hope this competition will produce a better pylon that is more in keeping with our countryside replacing those that have marred the landscape since the 1920s. However, any new power lines in protected areas are best buried underground.”
Scale models of the six designs for new electricity pylons shortlisted for the Pylon Design Competition will be on display at the V&A from Wednesday 14 September as part of the London Design Festival. Chris Huhne will open a display entitled A Pylon for the Future, meet the finalists and speak about the design challenges we face as we rebuild our energy infrastructure over the next forty years.
On 23 May 2011 the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) along with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and National Grid called for designs for a new generation of electricity pylon. 250 submitted designs have been whittled down to just six finalists who have been working with the National Grid to build scale models of their designs for the final judging panel.
There are already 22,000 pylons owned by National Grid across England and Wales supporting 4,375 miles of overhead lines. Many of these, according to the company, are now coming to the end of their shelf life and will need replacing with new structures. There are also plans to build nearly 300 miles of new overhead power lines and at least 1,000 accompanying pylons through some of the UKs most treasured landscapes.[1]
Tom Leveridge continued: While upgrading the UKs energy infrastructure is important, its frustrating that we still dont have any reliable estimate of the cost of undergrounding power lines. National Grid was tasked with producing an independent report almost a year ago but after unexplained delays they are yet to come clean on the real costs. [2]
If new lines are essential we should make sure that wherever possible, we minimise their intrusion to our beautiful and valued countryside. These important decisions should be based on independent analysis and not on the questionable assertions of those who stand to profit most from its outcome.
[1] A map of proposed lines can be downloaded here: http://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/energy-and-waste/electricity-pylons/the-issues[2] CPRE Press release: National Grid attempt to bury real costs of undergrounding power cablesThe Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) fights for a better future for the English countryside. We work locally and nationally to protect, shape and enhance a beautiful, thriving countryside for everyone to value and enjoy. Our 57,000 members are united in their love for Englands landscapes and rural communities, and stand up for the countryside, so it can continue to sustain, enchant and inspire future generations. Founded in 1926, President: Bill Bryson, Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk