Harry Potter Fans Force £430m Power Link To Be Rerouted To Protect Dobby Memorial

Harry Potter Fans Force £430m Power Link to Be Rerouted to Protect Dobby Memorial A £430m electricity project linking the UK and Ireland has been rerouted after Harry Potter fans objected to plans that would have taken the cable through a memorial to Dobby the House Elf. The Greenlink interconnector, a 190km high-voltage electricity cable between Ireland and Wales, was originally planned to come ashore at Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire. The beach is famous among Harry Potter fans because it was used as the filming location for the death and burial scene of Dobby in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Fans have since created an unofficial memorial at the location, leaving stones and other tributes marking what they refer to as Dobby’s “grave”. Project manager Simon Ludlam said the original route would have passed close to the memorial.

After details of the proposed route became public, the project team received a large number of complaints from Harry Potter fans who feared construction work could disturb the site. The strength of the reaction surprised those working on the project. Following the complaints, planners examined alternative routes and agreed to divert the cable so that it would avoid the Dobby memorial.

Mr Ludlam said the decision ultimately allowed the project to move forward while addressing concerns over the popular fan site.

The memorial is not an official Harry Potter attraction or a recognised burial site. Dobby is, of course, a fictional character. However, the location has become a popular destination for fans since the film was released, with visitors leaving tributes to the character.

The National Trust, which manages Freshwater West, has previously asked visitors not to leave objects such as socks and stones because the beach is environmentally sensitive and discarded items can pose risks to wildlife. Despite those concerns, the memorial has developed into an important part of the beach’s connection with Harry Potter fans. The Greenlink interconnector is a major energy infrastructure project designed to connect the electricity networks of Great Britain and Ireland. The project includes a high-voltage subsea cable running beneath the Irish Sea, allowing electricity to flow between the two countries. Greenlink has a capacity of 504MW and began transferring electricity between the UK and Ireland in 2025. National Grid says the interconnector improves energy security and allows the two countries to share surplus electricity, including power generated from renewable sources. The revised route avoids the Dobby memorial but brings the project close to genuine archaeological remains, including evidence of Bronze Age activity. The developers have said appropriate measures will be taken to avoid damaging the archaeological sites. The decision means construction of the interconnector can continue without disturbing the unofficial memorial that has attracted Harry Potter fans to Freshwater West. The unusual dispute has provided an unexpected twist to a major piece of energy infrastructure.