Vyrnwy-Frankton grid connection proposal

132kV, dual circuit. 172 pylons, about 31 miles (50km). Approximately 2.5km underground section from Llyn Lort substation.

Standard steel pylon height 27 metres, variable depending on terrain, up to 36 metres. Typical span between pylons 250 metres.

The underground part from Llyn Lort wind farm connects to a new collector substation at Cors y Garreg, just outside the wind farm to the north-west of Cefn Coch. The Rhiwlas GEN wood pole line also terminates at this substation. From there the overhead pylon line runs north-east to the Wales-England border near Llanymynech and continues past Oswestry to a new substation at Lower Frankton. It will connect to a new 400kv National Grid substation on the same site.

Much of the route closely follows the River Vyrnwy and frequently crosses over it. Lower Frankton is close to the Montgomery Canal.

Announced 2023 with a first public consultation. Revisions and further consultations in 2025.

The main purpose of the new line is to connect the proposed Llyn Lort Energy Park to the UK electricity grid, plus Banc Du and Rhiwlas wind farms via the proposed Rhiwlas GEN wood pole line.

In addition there is an intention to provide grid connections for Waun Hesgog and Esgair Galed Energy Parks, probably also at the Cors y Garreg substation. These would need new wood pole lines for which planning has been underway for some time but no conclusive details have yet been released. All these wind farms are Bute Energy developments.

There are several other nearby wind farms proposed by different developers, it's not known if any will connect to the Vyrnwy-Frankton line.

Because the proposal runs from Wales into England, it falls under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) planning system in England. The application will be handled by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State. Members of the public who want to make inputs to the planning process must register as an Interested Party. If the application is successful, a Development Consent Order (DCO) will be issued, enabling work on the project to start.

There was previous plan in 2011 for a National Grid 400kV plylon line along a roughly similar route that was stopped by strong local opposition.

References (external, open in new tab):

Green GEN Cymru Vyrnwy-Frankton project website

National Infrastructure Project - Green Gen Vyrnwy Frankton

PEDW planning casework: Llyn Lort Energy Park

Bute Energy: Llyn Lort Energy Park

PEDW planning casework: Rhiwlas Green Energy Network (GEN)

Green GEN Cymru Rhiwlas GEN project

Green GEN Cymru Phase Three Grid Connection Strategy (PDF)

Along the route:

River-Vyrnwy east of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain