Privacy dispute over drone surveys on pylons route

A drone flying above a road, operated by a person. Both are in silhouette, with a blue sky with clouds. National Grid/StirlingX
Andrew Turner

The use of drones to survey the planned 114-mile (183km) route of new pylons was non-intrusive and helped to minimise disruption to local people, National Grid said.

The company has submitted plans to build high-voltage electricity lines through Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, running from Norwich to Tilbury.

Campaigners against the project said the drone surveys, which began on 17 November, were an invasion of privacy and felt like "spying".

But the company carrying out the work insisted only footage "directly relevant to the route and surrounding landscape" would be captured, with no flights directly over residential properties.

A pylon, viewed from the ground, with a second pylon to the left of the image. The sky is blue, but cloudy. The lattice framework of the pylon, its ceramic insulators and the wires can clearly be seen.Reuters

Rosie Pearson, founder of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk Pylons Action Group, said: "How can it be unobtrusive if you've got something flying over your house, garden or land?

"I think it feels more like spying. It's a direct eye down to your garden."

StirlingX, the company carrying out the drone surveys, said: "They are not equipped or intended to record any personal or property-specific information, and no identifiable individuals will appear in the video."

National Grid senior project surveyor James Magson said: "By using this technology, we can reduce the need for teams to walk the entire route on foot, which helps to minimise disruption for local communities, landowners and the environment."

The company added it had enhanced permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority to record video footage of the route from heights of around 100m (330ft).

A map shows the location of the power line route, running from Norwich down to Tilbury in Essex.

StirlingX head of flight operation Rowley Cory-Wright said: "We can fly this route in six days, whereas to walk it would take months.

"We're here to look at the potential construction corridor; not to look at people's properties.

"We're too high up to identify anybody personally."

Rowley Cory-Wright is wearing a puffa jacket, which is charcoal on the outside, and grey and orange on the inner lining. He is wearing glasses, has an auburn beard and moustache and medium length hair. He is sitting at a desk with four computer screens behind him, showing maps and drone images of survey areas between Norwich and TilburyAndrew Turner/BBC

Rowley Cory-Wright from drone firm StirlingX said they were only interested in capturing pre-construction information

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