<< Back to Contents 18. OVERHEAD ELECTRICITY LINES     Policy OEL1 Low Voltage Overhead Electricity Lines Throughout the District       Low Voltage Overhead Electricity Lines Throughout The District   POLICY OEL1   1. The Council's strong general preference is that all new low voltage electricity lines in the countryside or in Conservation Areas should be laid underground except in cases referred to in clause 6 below.   2. If it can be demonstrated that     a. there is no alternative to a new low voltage overhead electricity line, i.e. there is no practicable alternative route or transmission system,       or     b. that new low voltage lines will replace or reduce the number of existing overhead lines,     new low voltage overhead electricity lines may not be resisted by the Council subject to compliance with clause 3 below   3. Commensurate with safety, access and maintenance requirements, the visual impact of a new low voltage overhead electricity line in the countryside or in Conservation Areas should be minimised, i.e. it should be sited, as far as practicable, so that it ;     a. does not intrude on skylines,       and     b. is sited close to field boundaries and/or other physical features.   4. When considering proposals for new low voltage overhead electricity lines in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Area of Attractive Landscape, Locally Important Landscape Areas or Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, the Council will have particular regard to the protection of outstanding landscape quality.   5. When considering proposals for new low voltage overhead electricity lines in Conservation Areas, the Council will have special regard to the desirability of preserving or enhancing their special architectural and/or historic character.   6. Undergrounding of electricity lines will not be regarded as appropriate by the Council if this would harm archaeological or nature conservation interests and/or important landscape features. These matters are addressed by Policies LSQ1-4, AS1, AS2, CA2, TW3, TW6, NC1 and NC2 of this Local Plan.   7. New low voltage overhead electricity lines should not harm residential amenity.   8. In addition to the above considerations, other Policies in the Local Plan should be complied with.   9. A low voltage overhead electricity line is defined as a line with a nominal voltage of less than 132 kilovolts.   10. This Policy applies throughout the District.         Top