A new innovation is reshaping how electricity networks manage land access, using artificial intelligence (AI) to turn images into insights, and reshape how electricity networks manage land access.
Power lines and associated infrastructure span thousands of miles across the UK, crossing everything from farmland to urban environments. To install and maintain this equipment on private land, network operators have wayleave agreements, permissions granted by landowners that allow access for infrastructure.
To make the process quicker and easier for both landowners and network operators, UK Power Networks is developing Wayl‑Ease, a secure, online platform designed to modernise how asset consents are identified, agreed and managed.
Delivered in collaboration with Digital Catapult, Tata Consultancy Services and Community Energy Pathways, the project introduces a data‑driven, self-service approach that simplifies engagement and improves transparency across the process.
The platform harnesses AI to analyse site photos and produce actionable insights. Landowners can upload photographs of infrastructure such as utility poles, and AI tools identify the type of equipment and its function. This enables faster verification, reduces the need for site visits and significantly cuts down the time required to process enquiries.
The innovation also brings together a range of advanced digital capabilities, including interactive mapping, automated workflows and digital contracting. These tools enable teams to see consent status, streamline approvals and improve coordination between the different parties. This helps remove bottlenecks, improve planning, and enables faster, more coordinated maintenance and upgrades to the network.
Chris Lawrence, consent manager at UK Power Networks, said, “Wayl-Ease represents exactly the kind of innovation that moves the electricity system forward. By giving landowners clear, accessible information at their fingertips, we’re removing friction from a process that has traditionally been complex and time consuming. This tool will not only strengthen relationships with the people who host our infrastructure, it will also help us manage the network more efficiently as we transition to a low carbon future.”
Luke Sperrin, senior practice lead for energy and sustainability at Digital Catapult, said, “As the energy system evolves, there is now an exciting opportunity to further enhance this experience by making access to information even clearer and the journey even easier for customers. We look forward to working alongside UK Power Networks in developing a user-friendly digital solution that helps prepare the electricity sector for the future.”
