Electricity pylons and overhead wires

Much of our electricity is transmitted via high voltage pylons and overhead lines. The transmission network, owned by the National Grid, currently consists of 22,000 high voltage pylons spaced across 4,375 miles (or 7,000 km) of overhead lines across England and Wales, most of which are in the countryside.

This summer, the Government will issue a policy statement on the future development of the nation’s electricity transmission network. This statement may propose that even more high voltage pylons and overhead transmission lines are erected.

CPRE, working in alliance with Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Campaign for National Parks and The National Association for AONBs, is calling for a 'smart grid' to be developed, to make best use of existing energy resources and avoid harm to our most important areas of countryside.