The Cotswold National Landscape is set to be transformed as a planning application to remove pylons and overhead line nears completion.

National Grid's proposal, which has been two years in the making, will see the removal of 16 pylons and the replacement of about seven kilometres of overhead line with cables buried underground.

The project, part of National Grid's Visual Impact Provision (VIP), aims to minimise the visual impact of existing high voltage power lines in protected landscapes across England and Wales.

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The removal of the pylons is set to change the skyline to the east of Cheltenham and onto the Cotswold Plateau.

Eager to keep the community involved, those residing in Winchcombe and surrounding villages are invited to view and give feedback on the updated plans at public information drop-in events held this month.

Winchcombe will host one of such events at the Abbey Fields Community Centre in Winchcombe on Saturday (February 24) from 10am to 2pm.

National Grid's lead project manager, Robbie Griggs, said: "By going underground in the Cotswolds, we'll transform the skyline right across the stunning landscape of the Cotswold Plateau.

"The chosen area was selected following extensive independent landscape and visual impact research – which identified the plateau as one of the landscapes most affected by pylons anywhere in England and Wales."

He added, "After two years of stakeholder and community consultation we are pleased to be nearing the completion of our carefully developed project plans.

"We really value feedback from the local community on our plans to enhance this special, protected landscape and really encourage everyone living locally to come along and see the final proposals before they are submitted in the spring."

National Grid will also be holding an online webinar on Thursday, February 29 at 6pm, and encourage anyone who cannot attend the drop-in sessions to join and ask questions there.

To register for the webinar visit www.nationalgrid.com/cotswoldsvip.