The Welsh Government and energy company Green GEN Cymru need to work together to ensure a new 90-mile power line delivers a real boost to rural businesses, Welsh landowners have warned.

The line will carry energy from the English Midlands to a substation near Carmarthen and will cut a swathe through the Welsh countryside from Radnorshire to Carmarthenshire.

Green GEN Cymru, part of Danish firm Bute Energy, plans a series of energy parks along it.

This will include the Nant Mithil Energy Park, 9 km east of Llandrindod Wells, which could generate enough energy to power 200,000 homes.

The power line will be supported by 27m tall, 132kv steel lattice pylons, 300-400m apart depending on the route and landscape.

Every pylon will need to be accessible for maintenance and repair. The company says it will provide funding for local communities, but many have already set up protest groups against the pylons and want to see the line taken underground.

“Economic development has been a driving principle for recent major road infrastructure projects in Wales," says Nigel Hollet, Director, CLA Cymru.

"Similarly the rural economy impacted by the proposed project needs to see long-term, tangible benefit: secure, permanent jobs for local people and procurement of local services, products and materials. A formal strategy - with clear targets and timeline - needs to be shared with the rural community.

“Wales urgently needs investment into the ageing energy network, notably to enable us to meet net-zero targets using more renewable generating capacity – but also to power the future economy. However the present and long-term needs of impacted landowners, farmers and local communities must be a high priority.”

“Farmers and land managers affected by the proposed Bute Energy power line should attend one of the consultation events – not only if they are directly affected but if their business is affected by the impact on landscape and increased use of the other infrastructure.

"At these meetings they can talk to Green GEN Cymru representatives with their own specific circumstances in mind. There’s to be options of attending online events.”

Already some landowners have been approached by the company’s agents, Bruton Knowles, requesting access for an initial survey. Others have attended meetings held by community groups.

“CLA Cymru is here to advise members with diverse business interests according to their individual needs or circumstances.

"The route is being developed in five sections: routing options being considered to avoid built-up areas, ancient woodlands and designated land – and also taking landscape and visual performance (to coin the phrase used in the proposals).

Green GEN Cymru’s Routeing and Consultation resource is available at greengentowyusk.com/

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