PEWSEY Vale is set to benefit from part of a £500m fund to reduce the visual impact of power lines in protected landscapes.

In a study published on Monday, overhead lines in parts of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been found to have a significant landscape and visual impact.

Pewsey Vale could now benefit from funds made available by Ofgem and a range of engineering methods could be used to try to reduce the impact.

This could include replacing overhead lines with underground cables, re-routing lines and screening substations or overhead lines from public viewpoints.

North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty planning advisor Andrew Lord said: “We are delighted the special qualities of the Pewsey Vale have been recognised in this study.

“This is a very scenic area with wide views across the area from Salisbury Plain and the Pewsey Downs.

“It is characterised by small villages nestled in the Vale and opportunities to increase tourism along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

“The unique chalk grassland species of the Pewsey Downs Nature Reserve are of international importance and include rare butterflies, orchids and invertebrates.

“The flat low-lying landscape of the area has meant the pylons are particularly intrusive and visible from the surrounding downland and Milk Hill, the highest point in Wiltshire.

“We are looking forward to the next step of the project and are hopeful that it will result in good news for the Pewsey Vale.”

The study assessed 571km of National Grid’s electricity transmission lines in England and Wales and 12 high-voltage lines in eight AONBs and national parks have been shortlisted.

A stakeholder advisory group comprising the Campaign for National Parks, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Campaign to Protect Rural Wales, English Heritage, Cadw, Natural England and the National Trust is helping the National Grid to identify which transmission lines should be prioritised and how the fund should be allocated.

Decisions about the transmission lines in the Pewsey Vale and other shortlisted sites will be made in the spring after discussions with stakeholders.