Planning application to upgrade electricity network between Bramford and Twinstead submitted

Over the past few years, extensive engagement and multiple rounds of public consultation has been held with local authorities, elected officials, technical consultees, affected landowners and members of the local community.

This engagement, alongside environmental assessments and technical work, has helped National Grid to develop final plans for the proposed reinforcement, which would see the construction of a new, 29 km 400 kV electricity transmission line using a mixture of overhead line and underground cables.

The submitted plans include approximately:

• 18 km of new 400 kV overhead line and pylons
• 11 km of new 400 kV underground cables, including in the Dedham Vale AONB and parts of the Stour Valley
• four cable sealing end compounds to connect overhead line and underground cable sections together
• the permanent removal of 25 km of existing 132 kV overhead line between Burstall Bridge and Twinstead Tee, and 2 km of existing 400 kV overhead line south of Twinstead Tee
• a new grid supply point substation at Butler’s Wood, to supply the local distribution network
• other associated infrastructure, such as construction access tracks, compounds, working areas and construction haul roads
• proposals to deliver environmental mitigation, compensation and enhancement, including 10% biodiversity net gain

James Greenhalgh, Project Director, commented: “Our application submission marks a significant milestone for the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement, which remains an essential part of the UK’s transition towards a net zero future, by helping to connect renewable and low carbon energy to homes and businesses across the UK.

We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the consultations held on the proposals. Your feedback has been vital in informing our final plans, which also include the removal of 27 km of existing overhead line and 10% biodiversity net gain.”

Following the submission of the application for development consent, the Planning Inspectorate has 28 days, until 25 May 2023, to decide whether to accept the application.

If the application is accepted, the Planning Inspectorate and National Grid will share further details of how application documents can be viewed. The Planning Inspectorate will then carry out a detailed, independent examination of our proposals. The final decision on whether to approve the application sits with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with this decision expected after the completion of the examination in the next 15-18 months.

Should the application receive development consent, construction would begin in late 2024 and take around four years. When complete, the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement will address an existing constraint on the high voltage transmission network and facilitate the transfer of cleaner, greener energy from offshore wind, interconnectors and nuclear generation from where it is generated to where it is needed.