OREANDA-NEWS. National Grid has today delivered to the Planning Inspectorate its application to build a new transmission connection for the proposed Hinkley Point C Power Station. The connection of new generation such as this will play an important role in making sure the country has the reliable and safe electricity supply we have all come to expect.

From tomorrow, the Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to decide if the application has met the right standard to proceed to examination. If the application is accepted all of the project's documents will be published on the Planning Inspectorate's website

At this point the Planning Inspectorate will invite anyone with an interest in the proposal who wants to take part in the examination to register with them. Those people will be invited to a preliminary meeting that marks the start of the six month examination period. After this period the examining inspectors will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who will ultimately make the decision as to whether the connection can be built. We expect this decision to be made in late 2015.

National Grid senior project manager, Peter Bryant, said: “When planning this connection, we have been careful to strike a balance between everything we've been told, the guidelines we have to follow and the engineering needed to keep the lights on. Our application has been submitted after five years of listening and talking to the public and stakeholders which has helped to shape the proposal.

“We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the consultation. Their views have made a huge contribution, including helping to inspire an international pylon design competition and the proposal to place five miles of the connection underground through the Mendips. And, although the new pylons would be bigger than the existing ones, overall there would be 100 fewer pylons than there currently are in the landscape.

“As a result of last year's consultation the proposal includes a revised route near Southwick, two potential routes in the Portbury and Portishead area and plans for more T-pylons to be used.”

KEY PROJECT FACTS:

The proposed connection, which runs between Bridgwater, Somerset and Seabank, near Avonmouth, is around 56 kilometres (35 miles) and includes:

Over 8 kilometres (5 miles) of underground cable through and either side of the Mendip Hills

Over 47 kilometres (30 miles) of overhead line carried on 141 pylons

109 T-pylons standing at around 35 metres

32 steel lattice pylons at around 47 metres.

The project includes the removal of:

Over 67 kilometres (42 miles) of existing lower voltage overhead line, between Bridgwater and Avonmouth, and Nailsea and Portishead

246 pylons standing at around 25 metres.