Our guidance document ‘Third Party Guidance for working near NGET equipment' provides information on safety when working near electricity lines.

Download document

On the Electricity emergencies and safety advice page, you can find out more about safety issues around our overhead lines and underground cables, including:

• agricultural operations near overhead power lines

• trees and vegetation near overhead power lines

• leisure activities near overhead power lines

• birds

• noise from lines.

Further information can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.

From time to time, we require access to land to inspect, maintain, and refurbish our existing equipment or to develop new lines. We have a duty to maintain the transmission network and power supplies, so we need quick and easy access.

Our rights of access to land crossed by our equipment  are contained within a wayleave agreement or permanent easement with the grantor.

Overhead power lines are inspected on a routine basis both by foot, helicopter and drone. We also have to climb pylons. Refurbishment of overhead lines can involve:

• replacing conductors, insulators, and associated fittings

• painting pylons

• works to the pylons and their foundations.

New technology is helping us to reduce the disruption caused by this work, but during major refurbishment, safety scaffolding may need to be put up over properties, roads, and other development.

Minor refurbishments (such as repainting) are usually needed every seven years. Major works tend to happen much less frequently. Find out more in the following documents:

• Installation of High Voltage Underground Cables

• Overhead Transmission Lines

• Overhead Line Refurbishment

• Guidance on Land Rights for New (and existing) Electricity Transmission Assets 

• Environmental and Engineering Surveys

• National Grid’s commitments when undertaking works in the UK.

To install and operate electricity equipment, such as overhead lines, pylons or underground cables, on land that we do not own, we require the rights to do so from the landowner or occupier. A wayleave or easement agreement with the landowner or occupier gives us the rights to install, access, maintain and repair our equipment on their land.

A wayleave is an annual agreement for which a landowner and/or occupier receive an annual wayleave payment. The wayleave payment is based on the type and number of assets on the land, and its land use.

An easement is an agreement that allows National Grid permanent rights for the equipment in return for a one-off lump sum payment. It can only be agreed between the landowner, or long-lease holder, and National Grid’s rights endure even if the land changes hands. An existing wayleave agreement can be converted to an easement.

Should you have any queries about your wayleave payment please contact the Grantor Services Team by:

• email: [email protected] 

• telephone 0800 389 5113 (select option 1).

If you're interested in converting a wayleave to an easement please email us: [email protected]

Annual wayleave payments to grantors are agreed and calculated with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) Estates and Wayleave Committee.

This committee is made up of representatives from electricity companies, Country Landowners Association (CLA), National Union of Farmers (NFU) and Farmers Union of Wales (FUW).

Payment rates are reviewed periodically and are based upon the size of the electricity equipment and land use.
 

Wayleave payment rates

Guidance Notes to explain Wayleave Payments for Occupiers of Arable land

Payment schedule for new electricity assets

Payment of surveyors' fees (English version)

Payment of surveyors' fees (Welsh version)

We provide information for planning authorities and developers on our electricity transmission lines and substations in a downloadable PDF guide. It covers planning and amenity issues, both with regard to our approach to siting new equipment, and to development proposals near lines and substations.

Design guidelines for development near pylons and power lines

Please click on the relevant title below to read or download the document:

Our EMF unit helpline manages enquiries from members of the public, including prospective homebuyers, sellers, and their professional advisers who may be concerned about nearby electrical equipment. 

The EMF unit provides relevant information to concerned individuals and will undertake field measurements as appropriate. We can also supply literature for home sellers to pass on to agents, prospective vendors, and their advisers. We're not aware of any UK mortgage lender that has a policy of refusing mortgages for properties near overhead lines because of EMFs.

You can also download our EMF public position statement which provides a framework for managing the EMF issues facing National Grid. It sets out how we’ll continually assess the scientific evidence in this area, determine any implications for the way in which we conduct our business, and explain to society what the science is telling us.

Download the EMF factsheet

Download EMF public position statement