Council objects to proposed 37-mile power line

A county council has opposed plans for a 37-mile (60km) power line that would pass through Derbyshire over fears it could impact several historic buildings.

A formal objection to the National Grid's proposal, which would stretch from Chesterfield to Willington, was penned by Derbyshire County Council.

The authority fears the power line, while required for energy provision, would have “adverse visual effects”, particularly on the landscape around Hardwick Hall, a Grade-I listed stately home in Derbyshire.

The National Grid said it was continuing to consult on the plans and was mindful of the impact on heritage sites.

The power line would be carried by 164ft (50m) tall pylons through acres of countryside and protected landscapes, including the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

The authority said further widespread impact in the northern part of Amber Valley would be hard to avoid without “significant amendment to the route of the pylons or running the network underground”.

It said the power line would have a potential harmful impact on three “highly significant” Grade-I listed properties including Hardwick Hall, Sutton Scarsdale Hall and Bolsover Castle.

The council said it was also concerned about the impact of the power lines on wildfowl flying to Ogston Reservoir, south of Clay Cross, and the Williamthorpe Nature Reserve, close to Chesterfield.

It said the National Grid needed to prove its route would not represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt and at least consider making amendments to avoid the most sensitive areas of protected land – such as by following the A50 and A38 where possible.

A spokesperson for National Grid said: “We are at an early stage in our proposals, and we are working closely with stakeholders including Derbyshire County Council, the National Trust and Historic England as we develop the project further.

"While the exact route of the project has not been determined, we would always look to maintain appropriate distances from cultural heritage sites.

"We are very grateful to stakeholders and the local community who have shared their views with us.

"We are carefully considering their valuable feedback as we continue to shape our proposals, before holding a further public consultation in 2025”.

The power line, which will be decided nationally due to its scale, instead of by local councils and councillors, would be built in six sections stretching from the north of Derbyshire to the south.

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