Work to start on £50m power line project in Devon

National Grid has started work on a £50 million refurbishment of pylons in Devon and part of Cornwall to keep power flowing in the South West and beyond for decades to come.

The line of pylons, running between substations in Exeter and Landulph, was built in the 1960s.

The wires carrying electricity that hang between them, along with other equipment, are approaching the end of their working life and need replacing. Engineers will inspect the condition of over 300 pylons along the 100km route and replace equipment as necessary to hold the wires in place. There are no new pylons.

The refurbishment follows a similar £30 million project carried out in 2016 on overhead lines between Indian Queens and Landulph.

Project Manager, Robbie Griggs, said: “Our job is to ensure electricity keeps flowing to where it’s needed. We need to make sure the country’s energy infrastructure is ready and able to meet the demands of the future.

“Projects like this mean substantial investment in the region’s power network. By replacing old components with more efficient fittings, National Grid will continue to deliver electricity safely, efficiently and reliably for many years to come.”

Preparation has already begun with survey and exploration work at pylon bases.

Engineers have been clearing trees and bushes after agreement by our ecology team and local land owners. A need for some temporary gates or stone pathways to access some of the pylons will be required. Actual refurbishment work will start from April and is scheduled to finish in October. Reinstatement of the land is expected to be completed by end of December 2017.

National Grid works hard to minimise the disruption to communities its working in. Robbie explains: “We’ve stationed our main depot in Trusham, just off the A38, to avoid heavy lorries using narrow roads and village streets along the route. Most of our work will take place between 7am and 7pm, with some work on weekends to get the job done as quickly as possible.

“We are a responsible business and are positive about investing in the communities where we work. Our community grant fund invests money into community schemes and our education sessions at local primary schools teach potential engineers of the future the theory and physics of electricity.”

People can get the latest project information on the National Grid website at www2.nationalgrid.com/exeterline

People who have questions or would like to know more can contact National Grid’s Community Relations Team on Freephone 0800 073 1047, available Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm.