Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) public and (b) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) consultations will be held on potential visually appropriate designs for the Great Western Mainline modernisation of overhead line equipment through AONB.

Consultations with the relevant local communities are planned for January and February 2017, where residents will view the output of the Landscape and Visual Appraisals undertaken alongside potential design and mitigation measures that could be employed.

Network Rail has been working with Natural England and the Conservation Officers for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) & North Wessex Downs AONB already affected by works as part of the Great Western Mainline modernisation. They will develop a package of suitable retrospective mitigation measures including Overhead Line Electrification designs to ensure due regard is given to protecting the visual amenity of the AONBs.