This page deals with the situation in the UK. See here for the equivalent page for the USA.
The UK situation with power lines and homes
The UK does not have restrictions on how close homes can be built to power lines provided they comply with the statutory safety clearance distances. (Various restrictions have been considered at various times though not adopted - see the different possibilities here.)
For the most part high-voltage transmission lines cross rural land and skirt the major conurbations such as London and Manchester bringing electricity to the main centres of demand. They also cross old industrial areas and brownfield sites that may once have been old power station sites or sites of now redundant heavy industry. Consequently, the drive towards urban regeneration and sustainable urban extensions means that development sites crossed by or close to overhead lines are being identified for development.
The UK electricity industry has no formal say in the identification of these development sites. It does however, provide advice to developers, local planning authorities and others on statutory safety clearances that must be maintained by any new development, the industry’s maintenance requirements, and similar technical issues. For further information on National Grid’s approach, see the section of National Grid’s web site on Development near Lines.
Neither the UK Government nor the Health Protection Agency have recommended any special precautions for the development of homes near power lines on EMF grounds. The Stakeholder Advisory Group on EMFs (SAGE) considered possible precautionary measures, which includes an option of preventing further development near power lines. Government responded to SAGE in October 2009 and rejected this option:
"However SAGE's cost benefit analysis does not support the option of creating corridors around power lines on health grounds. The Government therefore considers this additional option to be disproportionate in the light of the evidence base on the potential health risks arising from exposure to ELF/EMF and has no plans to take forward this action." (para 4)
More information
Numbers of homes near power lines: Because there are no planning restrictions, in the UK we have homes close to and indeed even underneath power lines. There are about 17,000 homes (0.07% of the housing stock) within 50 m of a National Grid overhead line, and perhaps two or three times this number near 132 kV lines. See the details and estimates of the value of these homes. There is some evidence that the homes near power lines have higher socioeconomic status.
Information for home owners/buyers: we provide information if you are thinking of buying a home near a power line or are having difficulty getting a mortgage.
Surveyors and property professionals: we provide some information for surveyors including the latest RICS position.
Urban design: even though there are no restrictions on building homes near power lines, there are ways of optimising the design of a development when it is near a power lines.
Planning permission: a summary of the position on EMFs and planning permission, and one case where a different decision was made.