HOME owners near a pylon line, which passes through Yarm, could see property prices rise by 10pc or more when the line is removed next year.

National Grid is due to connect the controversial new 400,000 volt Lackenby-Picton-Shipton line to the grid in November.

When this happens, the smaller, 275,000 volt 31km-long line, which runs from Norton, through Eaglescliffe, Egglescliffe, the eastern side of Yarm, to Crathorne then to Lackenby, will become redundant.

A spokesman for National Grid said: "The line will be switched off and we will remove it entirely within 12 months.

"There is no detailed programme of work as to which parts will be removed when, as yet, but we will be co-operating with local residents to minimise disruption."

Director of estate agency at Brown's in Yarm, Charles Holmstrom, said: "This can only benefit those who live near the pylons. The saleability of their houses and the value will increase.

"Prices could increase by ten per cent, or more, depending how near to the pylons they are.

"Because of the market at the moment, buyers have had to buy properties near pylons, but when the market was more difficult the pylons had a big impact on selling houses."

In many residential areas, pylons have been built on corridors of land, often owned privately, but rented to National Grid.

While everyone will be glad to see the back of the pylons, some fear these corridors of land will become housing developments.

David Hunter has lived at Bankside in the south eastern area of Yarm for 31 years with the pylon line just 40m away and is happy it is going.

But like many other residents, he has used the land the pylons are on for walking and ball games.

"I would rather the pylons stayed than they build houses on it, because we would like it to continue to be used as a public amenity. Most people have access on to it from their gardens," he said.

Pam Jones, who has lived near the pylon line in Yarm for 29 years, also hopes the land remains green, open space: "I will be pleased when the pylons are gone, because they're an eyesore. But I would like the area, or at least part of it, left as open space. We don't have many green spaces in Yarm."

Head of planning at Stockton Council, Steve Barker, said there was enough land allocated for housing in the local plan and the council would not be looking for more development.

However, in two years' time the local plan would be reviewed and new figures for housing allocation would be given.

"There are a lot of factors to consider, especially who owns the land and what they want to do with it.

"We are doing a review of open spaces and their value and these corridors of land left by the pylons will be looked at in those terms. If they're valuable, we would say they should be kept that way and not developed."