National Grid Norwich to Tilbury pylon scheme lodged with council

National Grid has submitted preliminary plans to a council for an 112-mile (180km) power line.

The firm, which wants to build pylons and lay cables as part of the Norwich to Tilbury project, has submitted the plans to Thurrock Council, Essex.

National Grid is running its third and final public consultation to collect feedback before plans are submitted to the Planning Inspectorate next year.

Critics want more underground or offshore cabling adopted.

In March, a report from the Electricity System Operator (ESO) put forward several options for grid reinforcement.

National Grid is finalising the route to carry electricity from off-shore windfarms across the country.

If approved, a new substation would connect the energy generated by offshore windfarms to the transmission network.

In its most recent plans, National Grid agreed to bury more of the cabling underground but insisted pylons still made economic sense.

A spokesperson for National Grid said recently: "Building a new line onshore between the existing substations at Norwich Main in Norfolk, Bramford in Suffolk and Tilbury in Essex represents the most efficient, coordinated and economical way to connect the renewable energy that is proposed and increase the capability of the network to carry more power from offshore wind."

National Grid is holding 14 public information events along with webinars and poster displays until 18 June.

It then plans to submit a planning application next year with government expected to make a final decision in 2026 with construction work starting in 2027.

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