habitat protection – high voltage line refurbishment

We worked with Northern Powergrid and statutory authorities to ensure a high voltage line refurbishment did not affect habitats and breeding birds.

Background

The ADAS ecology team worked with Northern Powergrid and the relevant statutory authorities to ensure that a major project to refurbish a high voltage electricity transmission line running across the North York Moors National Park could be completed without affecting upland habitats and breeding bird populations of international importance.

As part of a major refurbishment of a 66 kV overhead tower line between Malton Grid and Whitby in North Yorkshire, Northern Powergrid, through their chosen contractor, Interserve, installed 20 km of underground cable alongside the route of the A169 through the North York Moors National Park. The work included the dismantling of 108 existing lattice towers dating from 1929, many of which are highly corroded.

In addition to ensuring the future security of supply, the project had considerable landscape benefits for the National Park through the removal of many unsightly towers.

Actions

Following a comprehensive ecology survey, ADAS ecologists advised on planning and scheduling of the initial phase of the project to install the underground cable. Approximately 60% of the cable route was affected by statutory nature conservation designations of international importance. Ecological constraints include upland heathland, breeding birds, reptiles, otter and water vole.

ADAS assisted in compiling a detailed method statement for the works and successfully gained assent for the works from Natural England on behalf of Northern Powergrid. This followed the completion and submission of a Habitat Regulations Assessment. ADAS provided detailed method statements, ecological briefings and supervision at key stages and locations to both Northern Powergrid and Interserve to ensure that impacts on habitats and species were avoided.

Outcomes

For the most part, the underground cable runs along the western carriageway of the road or in the verge to avoid damage to the adjacent heathland. Much of the trenching and ducting across the moor was undertaken outside the nesting season to minimise the risk of disturbance to breeding birds.