It will cost consumers dearly, in capital to build and in revenue for increased operating costs both for the line and for knock-on grid developments elsewhere throughout England. The great majority of landowners refused to grant wayleaves, despite outrageous inducements. There is overwhelming public and all-party local authority opposition. People fear possible health risks from electromagnetic fields, which new evidence is reinforcing. It will facilitate increased imports of cheaper power from Scotland.
Lengthy transmission is wasteful and costly.
It will promote competition among generators. It will enable removal of a shorter but intrusive line in Teesside. It will be very profitable for National Grid and Scottish Power. Some of these responses are on this site and give a good background to the arguments over the proposed overhead line and other issues that it raises. Response to the House of Commons adjournment debate 24 July 1997 Information about the Economic and Environmental concerns.