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Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk county councils have joined forces to urge National Grid to rethink pylon plans




Three county councils have joined forces to implore National Grid to “make the right choice, not the short-term one”, after a recent review into the planned pylon line across East Anglia.

Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex county councils this week published an independent report, which they commissioned into the proposed power line reinforcement between Norwich and Tilbury.

Covering a total of 183 kilometres, the line is set to pass along a significant stretch of the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside – impacting both Bressingham and Diss.

Brome, Suffolk, 22/04/2023Transmission towers otherwise know as electricity pylons between Brome/ and Stuston. Picture: Mark Bullimore Photography 2023
Brome, Suffolk, 22/04/2023Transmission towers otherwise know as electricity pylons between Brome/ and Stuston. Picture: Mark Bullimore Photography 2023

National Grid insists that the development is required to enable the transmission of the increased amount of energy generated at coastal wind farms.

But, while all three councils accepted that reinforcing the network is necessary to support the transition to net zero, they argued that the need and timing of the current proposals is “uncertain and not robust”.

This position was echoed in the newly-published report by Hiorns Smart Energy Networks, which challenged the delivery date of 2030, suggesting the need for additional transmission capacity is likely closer to 2035.

The review did, however, conclude that an onshore development remained the most economical option for meeting future needs for transmission.

Despite this, county council leaders reiterated their preference for a co-ordinated offshore network, due to their concerns about the impact that the new pylons will have on local communities.

Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “The effects of pylons and all the associated infrastructure cutting across all three counties cannot be underestimated.



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