Bidwells reacts to plans for GB Grid

Clive Meikle comments: “Labour’s plans to increase competition, drive down costs and speed up grid delivery are welcome, particularly given the scale of investment needed to upgrade the national grid. The £4bn commitment to GB Grid is a significant first step, although it is only a fraction of the estimated £70bn required to upgrade the electricity grid and the longer-term funding will clearly need to be considered.

It can seem to those working on the ground, acting for the farmers and landowners affected by grid proposals, that the procurement arrangements deployed by grid operating companies can lead to unnecessary expense being incurred. We see opportunities for costs to be reduced through more efficient operating arrangements. If savings can be achieved, some of those benefits should be reflected in greater compensation for farmers and landowners, better recognising the losses, business interruption, and potential reduction in property values they can face when their land is subject to a grid upgrade proposal.

At present, there is very little opportunity for farmers and landowners to claim recompense for the uncertainty created by the threat of a grid upgrade scheme and the long-time horizons for projects to come forward can leave landowners in a difficult position while that threat hangs over them. As well as speeding up connections, it is important that the Government considers how the process can better support the people and businesses whose land is directly affected.”