National Grid is encouraging communities in East Anglia to comment on proposals to upgrade the high voltage power network in England as part of a 10-week consultation process which runs between Wednesday 10 April and Tuesday 18 June.
The way we use and generate energy is changing and with demand for electricity forecast to double in the coming years, changes need to be made to the network of overhead lines, pylons, cables, and other infrastructure that transports electricity around the country.
With the expected increase in energy coming ashore from offshore wind in the North Sea, the existing high voltage power network in East Anglia does not have sufficient capacity to connect it to the electricity grid in the coming years and beyond. By developing the Norwich to Tilbury project, National Grid will be able to connect power generated from offshore wind to the many homes and businesses across East Anglia and Britain and help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. In doing so, it will play a key role in providing greater energy security and help to bring the cost of energy bills down.
National Grid’s plan for a new overhead electricity line between Norwich and Tilbury is one of 17 proposed projects across England and Wales that form The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations.
With more than two years of development, the project team have listened to public feedback from 24 public information events and webinars, across two previous public consultations and collated around 7,000 feedback responses. This consultation is an opportunity for communities to see how the design of the project has progressed in response to that feedback. This includes the preferred draft alignment for the overhead line, an alternative design at Waveney Valley and substation extension works at the existing Norwich Main and Bramford substations and works within the existing Tilbury Substation.
The feedback National Grid receives at this stage of consultation, along with technical assessments and environmental surveys, will inform the development of the project before a DCO application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). If the application is accepted, PINS will appoint an ‘Examining Authority’ to independently review and examine the application, including encouraging the submission of views from communities and other interested parties.
The Examining Authority will then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will decide whether to grant consent for a DCO.
Liam Walker, Project Director for Norwich to Tilbury, commented: “Our plans are an essential part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of our energy network in a generation. By developing this project, we will be able to connect new sources of low carbon energy to homes and business across East Anglia and Britain so that everyone has access to cleaner, more affordable electricity.”
Over the ten-week period, members of the public will be able to attend 14 public information events, join webinars and view information at inspection points.
The following table shows when and where the public information events are being held:
Date and time
Venue
Wednesday 24 April 2024 12-5pm
Towngate Theatre, St Martin’s Square, Basildon, Essex
SS14 1DL
Thursday 25 April 2024 2-7pm
The Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, CM15 9NN
Saturday 27 April 2024 11am-4pm
Chelmsford City Racecourse, Chelmsford, CM3 1QP
Tuesday 30 April 2024 12-5pm
Gislingham Village Hall, Mill Street, Gislingham, IP23 8JT
Wednesday 1 May 2024 11am-4pm
Copdock Village Hall, Old London Road, Copdock, IP8 3JN
Friday 3 May 2024 1-6pm
Needham Market Community Centre, School St, Needham Market, Ipswich IP6 8BB
Saturday 4 May 2024 11am-4pm
Lawford Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford, Manningtree CO11 2JE
Wednesday 8 May 2-7pm
The Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, RM16 2JU
Thursday 9 May 2024 1-6pm
Thorpe Hall, Ashwell Thorpe and Fundenhall Community Centre, Muskett Road, Ashwellthorpe, NR16 1FD
Friday 10 May 2024 1-6pm
Tibenham Community Hall, Pristow Green Lane, Tibenham, Norwich NR16 1PX
Tuesday 14 May 2024 11am-4pm
Witham Public Hall, Collingwood Road, Witham, CM8 2DY
Wednesday 15 May 2024 1-6pm
Diss Town Football Club, Diss, IP22 4QP
Thursday 16 May 2024 2-7pm
Langham Community Centre, School Road, Langham, Colchester, CO4 5PA
Friday 17 May 2024 1-6pm
Great Bromley Village Hall, Parsons Hill, Great Bromley, Colchester, CO7 7JA
All information about the consultation and how to give feedback can be found on the project website at nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury from 12pm on Wednesday 10 April.
