Trans-Channel electricity link moves a step closer

AQUIND has announced its application for a new electric power transmission between Normandy and Portsmouth has reached the next stage of the planning process.

The plan is to land cables from France at Eastney, and run electricity through Portsmouth up to an interconnector at Lovedean.

The application, which seeks permission to construct and operate the UK elements of the project, has now been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

It is thought a 12ft wide space will be needed to accommodate the cables, including an 8ft trench between them.

The underground interconnector would expand electricity capacity for both countries and would be capable of transmitting across the Channel an estimated five per cent of Great Britain’s total annual electricity consumption – enough to keep the lights on in up to 5m British homes.

The news will come as a blow to Portsmouth City Council which had previously spoken of concerns at the proposal, fearing the cable would ‘run through the centre of the city’ and the potential disruption this could cause. In a cabinet meeting in November, the council voted unanimously to stand by their objections to the plans.

At that time the council’s deputy leader Cllr Steve Pitt criticised how the company Aquind had approached the scheme.

‘I have had the misfortune of being at a very long series of meetings on this since it first reared its ugly head,’ he said. ‘It’s nonsensical.’

Aquind said the planning development comes at the end of an ‘extensive consultation with the local community’.

Director, Richard Glasspool, said: ‘We are of course pleased that our application has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.’