I have visited this engineering project on several occasions over the last 12 months and always enjoy going to the very pleasant undulating landscape of South Dorset. It is a massive undertaking that will result in the removal of 8.8 kms of overhead transmission line towers and over 100km of buried cables on the 9.2km route. This is an astonishing piece of environmental reappraisal in that the presence of a 400,000-volt overhead transmission line that had been located here for over 55 years and was a part of the landscape, will now disappear. In 2014 this unique initiative sees Ofgem establishing a £500m fund covering Great Britain to be used for the mitigation of sections of overhead transmission lines and placing the conductors underground in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc created a policy document setting out the guiding principles for how they would select the schemes for the Visual Impairment Provision program. Ofgem conducted stakeholder consultation and confirmed support for the implementation of the policy, The main points in this regard are as follows:
- Result in greatest landscape enhancement benefits.
- Result in greatest opportunities to conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage whilst avoiding unacceptable environmental impacts.
- Result in greatest opportunities to encourage public understanding and enjoyment of the protected landscapes, including positive socio-economic impacts.
- Are technically feasible in context of the wider transmission system.
- Are economical and efficient.
The Dorset scheme was proposed to the VIP undertaking in September 2015 and lead to its inclusion with 11 other sites of OHL sections throughout England and Wales that were selected.
The Stakeholder Advisory Group is headed by Mr Chris Baines, he is an Honorary Professor of Landscape Architecture, Television Presenter, Magazine Contributor and Book Writer on Environmental subjects and a popular person to be in the Chairmanship of this Group.
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