ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Visual Impact Provision project in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) aims to reduce the visual impact of National Grid's overhead line near the villages of Martinstown and Winterbourne Abbas.
The section of overhead line
The section of overhead line is part of the 400kV electricity route connecting Axminster, Chickerell and Exeter 400kV substations. It is an integral part of the National Electricity Transmission System connecting the south west and south east of England.
Why was this section selected?
This section of line was identified by an independent landscape study as having landscape impacts of high importance particularly where the line crosses through a small valley close to Winterbourne Abbas. This and other small valleys in the downland are more susceptible to the visual impacts of the transmission line, while the open nature of the downland means that the impact extends across a large geographical area.
The line was also judged to have visual impacts of high importance affecting users of the National Cycle Route and South Dorset Ridgeway, users of local footpaths and access land and visitors to the landmark Hardy Monument.