A £2.8bn scheme aims to connect the proposed nuclear power station at Moorside , near Sellafield, to the National Grid near Carlisle, and at Heysham in Lancashire. The plans would see pylons, power lines and underground cables installed on private land across the county.
Disruption to farming during construction is expected to be immense, with Ravenglass farmer Alistair Mackintosh calling the upcoming period “quite a challenge”.
Tim Michie, a rural practice surveyor at George F White Chartered Surveyors, is urging landowners to lodge a claim for compensation.
“It’s wise that landowners start looking at initial compensation claims for issues including damage and disturbance, crop loss and reinstatement,” he said. “Where National Grid apparatus, such as pylons, directly cross private property, land- owners are entitled to one-off or annual compensation payments in exchange for land use and access for maintenance.”
As Cumbrian council delegate for the National Farmers Union, Mr Mackintosh farms on the proposed route for underground cabling. He understands that most landowners have already got an agent acting for them in terms of possible compensation.
Speaking previously, he said: “The damage and inconvenience caused with a project like this will have to be compensated. Each farm and each field will be different, and this needs to be recognised.”
Mr Michie said National Grid will be looking to agree terms with affected land-owners for entry and right of access for construction purposes. If permission is granted work is due to start in 2019.
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