National Grid Mid Wales Connection Project

The proposed Mid Wales Electricity Connection, commissioned by National Grid, aimed to deliver a new 400kV transmission line linking a marshalling substation in Mid Wales to the National Electricity Transmission System. The linear infrastructure scheme comprised a mix of overhead lines, underground cables, sealing end compounds, and upgrades to the Shrewsbury substation.

To support a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to energy infrastructure planning, Gillespies’ landscape planning team conducted a comprehensive landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) and led the routeing strategy. Multiple corridor options were explored to minimise impacts on sensitive landscapes and communities, including the undergrounding of sections and the consideration of T-Pylon structures in sensitive areas.

Working closely with Natural Resources Wales, Gillespies utilised LANDMAP as a key tool for assessing landscape sensitivity and capacity in line with Welsh planning policy expectations for linear infrastructure. Our team helped ensure that the proposed alignment balanced technical feasibility with landscape-led design principles, while complying with the requirements of both the English and Welsh planning frameworks.

The project, though ultimately suspended following the refusal of consent for the four associated wind farms in 2015, remains a benchmark in strategic landscape planning for electricity transmission projects. It demonstrates how robust routeing and siting strategies, informed by detailed landscape character assessment, are essential to managing the impacts of major infrastructure proposals.