Proposals to massively upgrade Cumbria’s electricity network require further development, it has been claimed.

The National Grid has been consulting on a plan to connect the proposed nuclear power station at Moorside, near Sellafield, with the network.

But Copeland council in its official response to the plan, says it has “a number of significant reservations which require further development and explanation” by National Grid, prior to its application to the Government for planning consent, expected to be by the end of this year.

It adds the proposals are “lacking evidence and information across many topics which limit the ability to assess potential impacts on local communities and to identify mitigation measures”.

Specific criticisms from the council include:

  • lack of benefits to the local community
  • target of 20 per cent local labour is too low
  • negative visual impact in the National Park setting: "views of, and from, the Park will be impacted”
  • not enough attention given to cumulative impact of the pylons and existing turbines
  • no adequate mitigation on high level of disruption during the five-year construction process, including on the visitor economy
  • health impacts of the line have not been addressed
  • a transport assessment needs to be carried out
  • timing and length of the consultation process “has restricted parish/councillor engagement”.

The council concludes: “We look forward to continued dialogue with National Grid in a bid to resolve these issues, agree an acceptable form of mitigation and infrastructure improvements, to ensure that the project is delivered with the necessary and appropriate safeguards for local communities.”

Included in the proposals are a series of new high-voltage pylons to replace a number of those owned by Electricity North West (ENW).

At 50m high, they are almost double the height of the existing pylons and the route broadly follows their path.

If approved, construction will start in 2019, ahead of Moorside beginning to generate electricity in 2024.