Consultation on pylon plan opens in county

The latest consultation on plans to install 114 miles (183 km) of pylons across the countryside will take place in Essex.

National Grid wants to install the pylons between Tilbury, Essex, and Norwich, Norfolk, to carry electricity produced by offshore wind farms.

The firm said the latest statutory consultation was being held in Thurrock and would run until 17 April.

The company is due to submit an application to the Planning Inspectorate later this year and, if approved, construction on the power line would start in 2027 and be fully operational by 2031.

The project has been hugely controversial and the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons action group has called for alternatives to be considered, including the laying of all cabling underground.

The consultation in Thurrock relates to proposed changes to the substation location at the southern end of the Norwich to Tilbury route.

Rather than connecting at the existing Tilbury substation, it has proposed building a new Tilbury North Substation three miles (5km) to the north, close to Orsett and between Linford and Chadwell St Mary.

National Grid said: "In response to feedback on local developments, including the Port of Tilbury, we propose moving the connection point to a new Tilbury North Substation, 5km north near Orsett.

"This change, at the site previously planned for a cable sealing end compound, avoids extending the existing substation and some underground cabling."

The project is part of The Great Grid Upgrade, which National Grid - an investor-owned firm - described as "the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations".

Earlier this month it was announced households within 500m of new or upgraded pylons would get discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, equivalent to £250 a year.

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