Peak district village restored to former beauty

A major initiative to place overhead power lines underground, enhancing the landscape of the village of Tissington in the Peak District, has been completed.


Before (left) and after (right) photos of the removal of overhead lines in Tissington

This follows a joint project between Western Power Distribution (WPD), the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) and Friends of the Peak District (FPD), with assistance from the Tissington Estate.

Around 1km of power lines and associated electrical equipment has been removed from view, restoring the beauty of the area.

The work is being funded through an Ofgem-backed initiative to enhance landscapes in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks, by removing electrical infrastructure like overhead cables.WPD is working closely with steering groups consisting of representatives from various National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty across the Midlands, South West England and South Wales to identify suitable sites for consideration.

Christian Hjelm, WPD’s Consents and Wayleaves Manager said: “Working with stakeholders has been helpful in pinpointing high priority schemes so that limited funds can be spent as effectively as possible.”

Martin Burfoot, Landscape Architect at the Peak District National Park, said "We are very pleased to be able to support WPD in its efforts to place overhead power lines and poles underground in this attractive conservation village. The engineers have been excellent to work with and the project will help to enhance the landscape in and around Tissington and improve the visual experience for both residents of this beautiful area and the many thousands of visitors it attracts."

David Allwood, volunteer Survey Officer at Friends of the Peak District added: “This is a great initiative – it continues to receive strong support from the public and working in partnership with Western Power Distribution and the National Park Authority means a real win-win for our precious landscapes and for locals alike.”