Braintree District Council (BDC) responds to National Grid’s most recent consultation on its plans to install pylons between the existing substations in Norwich and Tilbury in Essex.
The proposals are mostly of overhead line and pylons, expected to be 50 metres high, along with some underground cables through and near to the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and in part in the Braintree district, where it crosses an existing 400kV overhead line.
The council remains opposed to National Grid’s plans, arguing that National Grid has not fully explored alternative options that could deliver the same infrastructure capacity including energy security, carbon reduction and other environmental benefits.
In its formal response, the council states that “the off-shore options remain logical and feasible and that these remain unresolved, yet are important and relevant to the decision for this project as they have potential to result in reduced environmental impacts.”
Whilst the council welcomes the plans to provide 10% biodiversity net gain across the project, it is concerned over the loss of trees and “the first approach should be to mitigate fully the effects of the project upon them.”
The lack of detail provided by National Grid has also been highlighted by the council, making it “not sufficient for BDC to develop an informed view” on various areas including environmental, landscape and arboriculture impacts.
Braintree District Council initially raised concerns at the first consultation in June 2022 and reiterated its comments submitted where they have not been considered, and further shared its view in National Grid’s public consultation last summer.
Cllr Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said: “Whilst we are supportive of measures to help reduce climate change impact, the scale of development is significant, and we are concerned that the proposed route will have a negative impact. The proposals will rightly cause concern for our communities, and we will continue to reiterate our views and those of residents, in the strongest manner, that viable, alternative options need to be considered to avoid a detrimental impact on residents, local businesses and tourism.”
Residents and businesses can keep updated on the proposals via the National Grid website.