A new £6m scheme will see the removal of 11 pylons on the edge of Norwich.

UK Power Networks has announced it is to take down power lines between Earlham and Bowthorpe by the end of this year.

They will be replaced by 18km of underground electricity cables between both locations.

Project manager Paul Reed said: 'The pylons have been part of the skyline in the Bowthorpe area since the 1970s but residents will start seeing them come down towards the end of 2016, weather permitting.

'Power supplies will not be affected during the works but there will be traffic diversions at times as we lay the cables along parts of the route. We are working closely with local councils to ensure that be traffic disruption is kept to a minimum.'

The first phase of the project is to begin next week and will involve drilling at a major substation site at Earlham.

This will allow for two new 132kV cables to be installed underground in Bowthorpe.

Two 11kV cables and two fibre optics circuits will also be included.

The second phase will then see overhead lines between the Earlham site and a new pylon off Chapel Break in Bowthorpe removed.

Bert Bremner, Norwich City Council cabinet member for environment and sustainable development, said: 'The undergrounding of these cables will make a huge difference to the area and will have a positive impact on the landscape, benefitting both current and future residents of Three Score and Bowthorpe.

'UK Power Networks is hugely experienced with this sort of project and we will be working with them where needed to keep disruption to nearby residents to a minimum.'

Is a major building or improvement project going on in your community? Email luke.powell@archant.co.uk