Plans to replace around 7km of overhead high voltage electricity line and 16 pylons with underground cable and enhance the landscape across the Cotswolds plateau are now a step closer to being realised after receiving planning approvals by Cotswold District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.

The project is designed to reduce the visual impact of the overhead power lines in an area of the Cotswold National Landscape close to the Cotswold Way National Trail and will run from the south west of Winchcombe to the south east of Cheltenham.

This section of line was identified by an independent landscape study as having landscape and visual impacts of high importance and is one of five schemes that are part of National Grid's Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project, which is seeking to reduce the impact of overhead lines at selected National Landscapes across England and Wales.

Since 2021, extensive work has been undertaken to consult with local stakeholders and the wider community to listen to feedback and to gain vital information on matters such as archaeology, countryside access and nature.

Regular engagement has also taken place with local town and parish councils alongside organisations including Natural England, Historic England and representatives of the Cotswolds National Landscape.

The planning consents include necessary infrastructure to link the new underground lines with existing overhead lines, using connection points known as cable sealing end compounds at either end of the removed line where the newly buried cables come back up from underground and connect to the remaining overhead lines.

With the planning permissions and other necessary consents all in place, the project will now await confirmation of funding from Ofgem alongside finalising the necessary legal processes before work can then begin.

Chris Baines, chair of the VIP project's national independent Stakeholder Advisory Group, said: "Through extensive community engagement and by working with stakeholders at a national and local level, we have a once-in-a generation opportunity to enhance and protect this landscape.

"Anyone who uses the Cotswold Way National Trail between Winchcombe and Cheltenham will be aware of the positive impact removing the pylons will have on views across this wonderful place. Following this important decision, we move closer to achieving this exciting chance to transform the nationally-significant landscape for the better and contribute to nature recovery at the same time."

Amardeep Malhi, National Grid's project manager on the Cotswold VIP project, said: "Thanks to the constructive advice from Cotswold District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and all local stakeholders throughout the planning and project development process, we have shaped our proposals from feedback received across the local community and we now have a positive outcome to progress this project to remove 7km of overhead line across the beautiful Cotswold landscape."