The National Grid has come under fire for making compulsory purchase orders on farmland in Gwynedd, to secure a multi-million pound project to remove electricity pylons.

A planning application has been submitted to Snowdonia National Park Authority and Gwynedd Council to remove a 3.5km section of overhead pylon transmission line across the Dwyryd Estuary near Penrhyndeudraeth. The 10 pylons will be replaced by 1.86 mile tunnel under the Dwyryd Estuary in Gwynedd, with the connection placed in the tunnel.

It is believed the removal of the overhead line presents a "major opportunity to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of Snowdonia".

To ensure the works can be completed within the timescales required under the scheme, the National Grid says it needs to acquire the necessary land and rights for constructing the new tunnel and its associated infrastructure, and also to ensure that it has all the land and rights to remove the pylons.

The National Grid's planning application to remove 10 pylons from the Dwyryd Estuary is being discussed next week by Gwynedd Council's planning committee.
The National Grid's planning application to remove 10 pylons from the Dwyryd Estuary is being discussed next week by Gwynedd Council's planning committee.

As part of this, the National Grid made a compulsory purchase order on June 15, which has shocked and angered one landowner. Two of the pylons are situated on his land.

The farmer who doesn't wish to be named as negotiations are still ongoing, said: "I welcome the removal of the pylons but not at the expense of the compulsory purchase of permanent land rights for their removal.

"Those rights should be temporary and the rights required are already held in a wayleave agreement between myself and the National Grid."

He added: "Over the past few months it has become increasingly clear to me that something was wrong. National Grid seemed to be evasive when questioned about what land rights they were seeking.

"Two weeks ago I discovered that they wanted to compulsorily acquire permanent rights over my land to remove the pylons. These permanent rights will have the potential to prevent me from doing anything on my land, as National Grid have placed all the access routes to my land in the compulsory purchase order."

He added: "I was shocked by this and feel that National Grid has acted in a manner that is completely unacceptable."

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The plan is part of a £500m programme to remove pylons in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

If approved by Gwynedd Council, work would begin in 2021, with the pylons removed in 2026.

Pylons over the Dwyryd Estuary. credit Kevin Williams, geograph.org.uk
Pylons over the Dwyryd Estuary. credit Kevin Williams, geograph.org.uk

A spokeswoman for the National Grid said: "We await planning permission for our proposals which will significantly enhance the natural beauty and landscape of the Snowdonia National Park.

"We are in contact with all landowners and tenants to seek to acquire all of the rights that we need to carry out the works. We always seek to reach agreement and the CPO process is just a safeguard to ensure we can carry out the works which will see the removal of 10 pylons from across the estuary.

"Snowdonia National Park Authority has granted planning permission for the works in its area and Gwynedd Council is considering the application next week."