National Grid : to unveil plans to remove pylons in New Forest

17 Jul 2018

• Local people are invited to find out more about proposals to replace an approximately 3km stretch of overhead electricity transmission line and eight pylons with underground cables on Hale Purlieu
• Public information events will be held inviting residents to view the proposals and find out the facts.
• The drop-in sessions will be held on Friday 27 July between 2pm and 8pm at Hale village hall, and on Tuesday 31 July between 2pm and 8pm at Woodgreen village hall.

Local people in Hale and the surrounding villages are invited to attend a set of public information events to find out more about plans to replace existing electricity transmission infrastructure with underground cables.

The plans, which are being proposed by National Grid as part of its Visual Impact Provision project*, would see an approximately 3km stretch of overhead electricity transmission line replaced with underground cables on Hale Purlieu, permanently removing eight pylons from the landscape.

Since the project first began in 2015, National Grid has been working together with local stakeholders to develop its proposals, including the New Forest National Park Authority, Verderers of the New Forest, National Trust, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the parish councils surrounding Hale Purlieu.

At the events, local people will be able to find out the facts about the project and share their views. Members of the National Grid project team will also be on hand to answer any questions about the plans and discuss them in detail.

The information sessions are being held on Friday 27 July between 2pm and 8pm at Hale village hall, and on Tuesday 31 July between 2pm and 8pm at Woodgreen village hall. These events will be held ahead of further public consultation which will take place in the autumn this year prior to the submission of a planning application (which will also be subject to a consultation period) in early 2019.

Ben Smith, VIP project manager (south), said: 'We believe that the VIP project presents a major opportunity to conserve and enhance the Hale Purlieu landscape for the many local people who regularly enjoy it.

'These events will be an invaluable opportunity for residents to come along and find out more about the project and have their say.

'We have made good progress on our proposals together with our stakeholder partners and we are now in a position to share our plans with the local community.'

The VIP project will also be on display at the New Forest Show (Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 July) and the Ellingham & Ringwood Agricultural Show (Saturday 11 August) where visitors will have the opportunity to meet members of the project team and explore the proposals in detail.

To find out more about the project and the forthcoming information events, please visit: http://newforest.nationalgrid.co.uk/