Campaigners say pylon plans for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are 'far too narrow' in approach

They want an offshore option

Electricity pylons at sunset, Nr Hinkley Point, Somerset
Author: Jasmine OakPublished 14th Mar 2024

Campaigners are describing new proposals for pylons across the East of England are 'far too narrow' in their approach.

The Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk Pylons Action Group are advocating for a total re-think of the scheme, which would see more than 100 miles of pylons built between the three counties to bring offshore wind power to East Anglia.

Rosie Pearson, founder of the group says: "It's short-sighted, and a missed opportunity".

It comes after a new report found any method to get offshore wind power to East Anglia will have a big impact on local communities and landscapes.

The report says there are potential ways to reduce the need for pylon lines across the three counties, for example, offshore cabling, but warns that these options are likely to have an additional impact on communities and landscapes in the region.

They're also more expensive that the National Grid's current plans.

"Disappointing from the start"

Rosie continued, saying the project's been "disappointing from the start" and that the "outcome is worrying."

She says the group are upset that it was only a "narrow study" and they wanted a review of "the whole offshore grid for all the 18 or so projects that happening in the North Sea."

Rosie acknowledges that one positive they did find in the report was that underground cables could potentially act as as alternative to pylons.

More specifically, a new type of cable called HVDC - these are reportedly cheaper than the current cables which they had planned to use and they "take up a lot less space."

This means less ground will need to be dug for them to put in place, and therefore there is less damage to the environment.

Offshore Power

The action group would prefer to see an off shore grid put into place instead of pylons.

However, Rosie remarked that currently, a "fully offshore grid is not on the table due to the narrowness of the report.

"It's such a shame, it's such a missed opportunity to do it properly."

What they would like to see

Rosie wants National Grid to "look at a strategy for the long term that benefits everybody - wind farm operators, consumers, the environment and the communities in East Anglia.

"Let's look at all the options and then let's sit down and let's give some government funding to make it work.

"Let's just look at the big picture instead of the narrow picture."

What does Suffolk County Council think?

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment and Finance, said:

“Greater clarity around what might be possible to remove, or markedly reduce, the impact of pylons in Suffolk is very welcome.

"It is now critical that National Grid take these findings into consideration as they continue planning their Great Grid Upgrade, which includes the Norwich to Tilbury project - a project around which we have huge concerns.

“It is very disappointing that more energy developers did not take part in the voluntary offshore coordination support scheme.

"As a result, potential coordination, which reduces pylons in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, could lead to greater impacts in east Suffolk”.

"The options for the coordination of offshore wind projects could support a scheme to transform the Norwich to Tilbury pylon line into two offshore links between Norwich and Tilbury."

"However, the coordination between Sea Link (the proposed offshore link between Suffolk and Kent) and two offshore wind farms, would be likely to require additional cabling and another five-hectare converter station in East Suffolk."

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