National Grid Electricity Transmission has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for development consent for an electricity transmission network upgrade between Norwich Main substation in Norfolk to Tilbury substation in Essex, via Bramford substation in Suffolk and a new Tilbury North substation.
The Norwich to Tilbury project is one of 17 major infrastructure projects in England and Wales designated the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’, supporting increasing demand for electricity across East Anglia and the whole of the country.
Over the past few years, public consultation have been held with local authorities, elected officials, technical consultees, affected landowners and local communities. The final plans are for construction of a new 180km high-voltage electricity transmission line using a combination of overhead line and underground cables.
National Grid said the project received around 20,000 pieces of community feedback, which has led to changes being made, including the introduction of an underground cable section near Great Horkesley, close to Dedham Vale National Landscape.
Since the initial stages of public consultation guidance on benefits for communities hosting new electricity transmission infrastructure has been published by the Government. National Grid said it expects millions of pounds to be available to benefit local communities and the wider area, should the project achieve planning consent.
If the application is accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and National Grid will share further details of how application documents can be viewed. The Planning Inspectorate will then carry out a detailed, independent examination. The final decision on whether to approve the application sits with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, in the next 15-18 months.
The submitted plans include:
• 159km of new overhead line supported on approximately 509 steel lattice pylons
• 21 km of underground, cabling some of which is located through the Dedham Vale National Landscape (formerly known as Dedham Vale AONB)
• seven new compounds, each with a permanent access, to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables
• a new East Anglia Connection Node substation, with a new permanent access, on the Tendring Peninsula
• a new Tilbury North Substation to the south of Orsett Golf Course in Thurrock with access options
• modifications to the existing National Grid Electricity Transmission overhead lines, including into and out of the new Tilbury North and access options
• substation extension works at the existing Norwich Main and Bramford substations to connect and support operation of the new transmission connection.