National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (National Grid) – Norwich to Tilbury
We are emailing to inform you of the start of National Grid’s statutory consultation for Norwich to Tilbury (the “Project”). We are contacting you as we believe you may be interested in our proposals.
The consultation starts at 12:00 noon on Wednesday 10 April 2024 and runs until 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
The Project is a proposal by National Grid to upgrade the electricity transmission system in East Anglia between Norwich and Tilbury. The Project includes a new 400 kilovolt (“kV”) electricity transmission connection of approximately 184 kilometres (“km”) in overall length from Norwich Main Substation and Tilbury Substation via Bramford Substation, comprising:
- approximately 159 km of new overhead line supported on approximately 510 steel lattice pylons (approximately 50 metres (“m”) in height) some of which are gantries (typically up to 15 m in height) within proposed Cable Sealing End (“CSE”) compounds or existing or proposed substations
- approximately 25 km of 400 kV underground cabling some of which is located through the Dedham Vale National Landscape (formerly known as Dedham Vale AONB)
- six new CSE compounds, each with a permanent access, to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables
- a new 400 kV East Anglia Connection Node (“EACN”) substation, with a new permanent access, on the Tendring Peninsula. This is proposed to be an Air Insulated Switchgear (“AIS”) substation
- substation extension works at the existing Norwich Main and Bramford substations and works within the existing Tilbury Substation to connect and support operation of the new transmission connection
- temporary works associated with the construction of the Project.
An alternative design at the Waveney Valley (referred to as the Waveney Valley Alternative) is also being considered and is the subject of consultation and ongoing assessment. This design alternative, if taken forward, would result in changes to those elements of the Project set out below. This would instead comprise:
- installation of approximately 157 km of new 400 kV overhead line
- installation of approximately 27 km of 400 kV underground cabling (some of which is located through the Dedham Vale National Landscape)
- eight new CSE compounds (each with a permanent access) to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables.
All other works not listed above would be consistent with either alternative.
In other words, the Waveney Valley Alternative, if taken forward and based on the 2024 preferred draft alignment would comprise approximately 2 km less new 400 kV overhead line and approximately an additional 2 km of 400kV underground cabling and two additional new CSE compounds, each with a permanent access, to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables.
Third party utilities diversions and / or modifications would also be required to facilitate the construction of the Project. There would also be land required for mitigation, compensation and enhancement of the environment including Biodiversity Net Gain.
As well as the permanent infrastructure, land would also be required temporarily for construction activities including for example working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, welfare, storage and temporary construction access.
Norwich to Tilbury will play a vital role in delivering electricity efficiently, reliably, and safely and will support the UK’s move to reduce carbon emissions and we are committed to working with local communities as we develop our plans.
National Grid expects the Project to be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (“NSIP”) and to require consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero via a Development Consent Order (“DCO”). The development consent being sought will include a number of other provisions, including those which authorise the compulsory acquisition of land and rights over land, if necessary, to construct and maintain the Project.
Statutory consultation
The proposed Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) development, as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended) (“EIA Regulations”). As part of the consultation, we are seeking views on the potential environmental effects of the proposals and if consultees have suggestions for reducing these effects (for example, through mitigation measures). This information is detailed in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (“PEIR”). An Environmental Statement will be prepared subsequently in accordance with the EIA Regulations and will accompany the application for development consent.
The Project is currently in the pre-application stage of the DCO application process. As such, the Project is consulting on its proposals between 12:00 noon on Wednesday 10 April and 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
Supporting materials
National Grid (as required by the Planning Act 2008) has prepared a Statement of Community Consultation (“SoCC”) which sets out how it will undertake the statutory consultation for the proposed application with those people living and working in the vicinity of the Project. The SoCC is available to view on the Project website: http://www.nationalgrid.com/n-t and at the inspection points listed further down in this letter.
A copy of the full suite of consultation documents is available to view on the Project website from 12:00 noon on Wednesday 10 April 2024 until 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
These include:
- Project Background Document
- Community Newsletter 2024
- Feedback questionnaire
- Copy of the newspaper notice published under Section 48 of the Planning Act 2008 (as the Project is ‘EIA Development’ for the purposes of the EIA Regulations and as required by Regulation 4 of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications and Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 (as amended))
- Preliminary Environmental Information Report (“PEIR”) and non-technical summary (“NTS”) of the PEIR
- Project maps/Project area maps showing the extent of the Project
- Statement of Community Consultation (“SoCC”).
Copies of consultation materials and documents can be provided on request by contacting us either by email at contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com or by telephone 0800 915 2497.
Public information events
During the consultation a series of face-to-face public information events will be held where you can speak with the Project team.
You can attend any of our events to meet the Project team, ask questions and view more details of the Project:
| Date and time | Venue |
| Wednesday 24 April 2024 12pm-5pm | Towngate Theatre, St Martin’s Square, Basildon, Essex SS14 1DL |
| Thursday 25 April 2024 2pm-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 12pm-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 1pm-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 2pm-7pm | The Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, RM16 2JU |
| Thursday 9 May 2024 1pm-6pm | Thorpe Hall, Ashwell Thorpe and Fundenhall Community Centre, Muskett Road, Ashwellthorpe, NR16 1FD |
| Friday 10 May 2024 1pm-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 1pm-6pm | Diss Town Football Club, Diss, IP22 4QP |
| Thursday 16 May 2024 2pm-7pm | Langham Community Centre, School Road, Langham, Colchester, CO4 5PA |
| Friday 17 May 2024 1pm-6pm | Great Bromley Village Hall, Parsons Hill, Great Bromley, Colchester, CO7 7JA |