Story perspectives

Welsh Government Consults Ban on 132kV Steel Pylons

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 4:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Welsh Government launches consultation to ban large steel lattice pylons on new 11-132 kV lines.
Plaid Cymru pledged to prohibit steel pylons up to 132 kV before the May Senedd election.
Policy permits wooden poles or equivalent infrastructure where planning tests are satisfied.
Government argues undergrounding reduces visual impact, protects landscapes, and lowers wildlife risk.
Consultation notes undergrounding costs more to install, maintain, and may cause construction impacts, said Minister Adam Price.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act gave the UK Secretary of State authority to direct electricity supply amid oil-price shocks from the Yom Kippur War and domestic industrial action. The 1975 Electricity Act continued parliamentary involvement in the electricity sector, a framework the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru now reference while proposing to replace steel pylons with wooden poles or underground routes.

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Story summary

Welsh Government launches consultation to ban large steel lattice pylons on new 11-132 kV lines.
Plaid Cymru pledged to prohibit steel pylons up to 132 kV before the May Senedd election.
Policy permits wooden poles or equivalent infrastructure where planning tests are satisfied.
Government argues undergrounding reduces visual impact, protects landscapes, and lowers wildlife risk.
Consultation notes undergrounding costs more to install, maintain, and may cause construction impacts, said Minister Adam Price.

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