High-voltage line work in Leest resumes after new permit granted

Work has restarted on rebuilding the high-voltage power line in Leest, two years after a severe storm toppled nine pylons. The Flemish Minister for the Environment, Jo Brouns, has issued a new environmental permit, allowing the project to move forward after a previous permit was suspended by the Council for Licensing Disputes at the request of local residents.

The construction activities had been on hold since early May due to the suspension. According to the grid operator Elia, the new permit addresses the concerns raised in the suspension ruling, enabling the continuation of work on the nine high-voltage pylons. These new pylons are designed to be taller and heavier than the original ones.

In July 2022, a powerful storm caused significant damage, bringing down nine pylons over a four-kilometer stretch in Leest. Since then, a temporary emergency line has been in place to maintain the electricity supply to the Mechelen region. Elia emphasizes that rebuilding the original high-voltage line is essential for ensuring a stable, long-term power supply.

Before the suspension, Elia had already managed to rebuild one pylon. The grid operator has committed to keeping local residents informed about the ongoing work schedule and any potential disruptions. The suspension of the previous permit stemmed from complaints by residents who argued that the decision to grant the permit was potentially unlawful due to insufficient justification for not conducting an environmental impact assessment (MER). Specifically, they contended that the rationale for not treating various components of the work as a single project, thereby staying below the MER threshold, was inadequately explained.