Examination of Witnesses

Part of Growth and Infrastructure Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:00 pm on 20 November 2012.

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Ruth Bradshaw: Infrastructure needs to be designed in a way that is appropriate for the setting. In many cases in national parks that may mean that undergrounding is the more appropriate option. That is why we are keen to see the existing processes continue, where local planning authorities are working closely with the developers to ensure that infrastructure is designed in a way that is appropriate to the national park. We will not then have the potential economic disbenefits detracting from these landscapes that have specific protection under legislation that has been in place for many decades.

The other thing I would like to say on that is that, as was touched on earlier, there is evidence of people’s willingness to pay for the undergrounding of overhead lines in national parks and AONBs. That is the process that is already in place for the electricity industry. There is an allowance of £60 million for the current five-year period for distribution network operators to underground their overhead lines, and they are working closely with stakeholder groups, which are consulting local communities to identify the priorities for undergrounding. That clearly demonstrates that there is an appetite and a willingness to pay for undergrounding where it is appropriate.