Many people will not be aware of the dimensions and the impact of the proposed pylons, so we have listed the dimensions below and compared them with the existing 132kV pylons. They are the biggest type of pylon currently in use in this country.

National Grid has stated many times in the media that their new pylons will only be slightly larger than the existing pylons.  However, our calculations based on Grid's consultation details shows something very different.

The 400kV pylons will be 7.76 times the volume of the existing 132kV pylons

The 132kV pylons are 12.9% the volume of the proposed 400kV cables.

This doesn’t include increased wire and insulator sizes which will further increase the visual impact.

This photomontage by Power Without Pylons compares an existing 26m tall 132kV pylon in the Whicham Valley with one of the proposed 47m tall 400kV pylons superimposed next to it. Black Combe can be seen in the background.

To put things in perspective, the 400kV pylons are about the same height as Nelson’s Column.

This is a a 400kV pylon near Heysham – note the size of the lorry.