New consultation open for East Anglia pylon scheme

Landowners affected by proposals for 180km of new pylons across East Anglia have been invited to give their feedback on the latest version of the plans.

The Norwich to Tilbury project, formerly known as East Anglia Green, is part of National Grid’s ‘Great Grid Upgrade’, which is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations.

The proposals include building a new 400,000 volts (400 kV) electricity overhead transmission line across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, to reinforce the current high-voltage power network, as well as connect new offshore wind generation.

A second non-statutory public consultation about the proposal opened on 27 June 2023 and will run for eight weeks.

The consultation sets out information on the latest plans, including potential positions for the overhead line, pylons, underground cables and substations and is a valuable opportunity for landowners to make representations about how best to reduce the impact of the scheme.

If they haven’t already done so, landowners should consider appointing a land agent who will make sure their interests are fully represented as the process continues.

By taking advice early there may be more opportunities to influence the design of the project and reduce short- and long-term impacts on a property.

National Grid has also started to undertake non-intrusive surveys along the potential route and will be wanting to commence more intrusive surveys in the not-too-distant future.

This is another good reason to seek professional advice to establish the extent to which these surveys will affect you.

National Grid will cover reasonable professional fees for work undertaken in relation to the scheme.

The Norwich to Tilbury project is of a scale that means it is categorised as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). National Grid will have to make an application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008.

This is a lengthy process and National Grid is not expected to make their DCO submission until 2025. If awarded, it will grant National Grid the power to acquire both permanent and temporary interests in the land required to construct and operate the pylons.