WORK has begun on an £18m project that will see overhead power lines removed from the stunning views of the North York Moors as they are re-laid underground.

Northern Powergrid has begun work on creating a new underground cable network between Whitby and Malton.

The project is designed to improve quality and reliability of the power network for local people in the area and enhance the scenery of the national park.

The first stage of the project will see Northern Powergrid install 20 km of underground cable along the A169 route through the North York Moors National Park. Once complete 108 towers will be carefully dismantled and removed.

The route crosses the North York Moors Special Interest Area and the North York Moors Special Area of Conservation which are specially protected sites of European and National Importance.

The area is protected due to the presence of rare and vulnerable habitat including dry heath, wet heath and blanket bog. It is also home to a large number of species of importance including breeding Golden Plover, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier, Redshank and Curlew.

Northern Powergrid has employed ecological consultants from ADAS UK Ltd and liaised closely with Natural England and the North York Moors National Park to ensure the work avoids any significant disturbance to important habitats and species as well as the wider environment.

The electricity distribution company has also worked with the local authority to ensure traffic management is managed effectively.

The multi-million pound project is part of a wider £3 billion investment programme over the next eight years by the company, which is responsible for delivering power to 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North-East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

The first excavation work to install the underground cable started today (Monday, April 20) and will be completed by October 2016.

Mike O’Carroll, from Welbury, near Stokesley has been campaigning for power lines to be placed underground for a number of years as the North Yorkshire chairman of the campaign group Revolt.

He said in the future there was likely to be a large expansion of the power grid across the UK as companies to transport energy from new renewable energy sites and welcomed news that companies were more open to the idea of placing cables underground.

He said: “The fact that National Powergrid are laying under-ground cables in the North York Moors National Park is to be welcomed. It will be seen by some as a small token compared to the massive development coming, but it’s not to be sniffed at.”