National Grid is planning to upgrade around 98.9 km of existing high voltage overhead electricity transmission lines between Pelham and Rayleigh. This work will enable more power to be carried through the existing network and is known as uprating.
Like much of the high voltage electricity transmission network across the country, the network in the East of England was largely built in the 1960s to supply regional demand. Failure to reinforce the network will restrict the amount of homegrown, low carbon and renewable energy to be transported across the country.
Currently, we are not able to move around the renewable energy produced from the North Sea due to the limited capacity of the existing distribution network. The network cannot accommodate the high volume of energy being generated, which is why we need to reinforce the network between Pelham and Rayleigh.
This work is key to help deliver the wider Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement project, and is supporting The Great Grid Upgrade.
The works are scheduled to start in summer 2027, with all construction activities to be completed by the end of 2028. The works will not be carried out across the entire route simultaneously, but will take place in multiple areas along the route at different times.
It is important to note, that no new towers will be built as part of this project.
National Grid has a statutory obligation under the Electricity Act 1989 to develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical system of electricity transmission, and to facilitate competition in the supply and generation of electricity. Work on the towers is expected to be carried out via National Grid’s Permitted Development rights.
To ensure we can deliver this essential project without delay, we will need to access our towers to complete the reinforcement works. We will engage with all landowners to seek voluntary agreements and are in the process of contacting all relevant landowners regarding our planned works.
Where possible, National Grid always seeks to acquire land voluntarily in the first instance, however sometimes this is not possible. Compulsory powers can be used to support the delivery of infrastructure projects that are in the public interest.
Land referencing is an important process to ensure that work can take place along the overhead line route. We have identified parties who we believe may be affected by the project based on Land Registry Data and previous engagement through other projects in the area and we have appointed land agent, Savills, to verify the publicly available information. This is to ensure that the information is up-to-date and to confirm the current occupation of the land. Savills will shortly be writing to all identified parties to ensure that all land rights are fully understood.
The route begins in Pelham and passes through Rickling Green, Debden Green, Great Sampford, Robinhood End, Sible Hedingham and Wickham St Paul before reaching Twinstead. The route then passes through White Colne, Earls Colne, Perry Green, Braintree, Boreham, Sandon and Howe Green. Following this, the route runs passes through Runwell and Wickford before reaching Rayleigh.
An interactive map will be developed as the project progresses.
Other projects in the area
We are coordinating this work with other notable projects in the area to ensure disruption to local communities and landowners is minimised wherever possible.
Essex Overhead Line Maintenance (BRRE)
Since January 2023, we have been undertaking essential maintenance work on the 400kV overhead electricity transmission line between Twinstead Tee and Rayleigh Substation in Essex.
The final stages of the project still need to be carried out, as we aim to complete these works in the first half of 2026, subject to network outages and factors that may be outside of our control, such as bird nesting seasons.
When completed, the new conductors will be capable of carrying more power, helping transport cleaner, greener energy from where it is generated to homes and businesses.
More information about this project can be found on its webpage here.
Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement (BTNO)
National Grid is upgrading the electricity transmission network between Bramford substation in Suffolk and Twinstead Tee in Essex through the construction of a new overhead line and underground cable.
The existing electricity network in East Anglia needs upgrading in order to transport all the new renewable and low carbon energy we expect to connect to the network in this area by the end of the decade. We are therefore reinforcing the network so we can meet future demand, boost energy security and help the nation become more self-sufficient.
Our plans, which were approved by the Government in September 2024, will involve constructing around 18 km of new overhead line and around 11 km of underground cable.
Work on a grid supply point substation at Butler's Wood started in 2024, with further construction work on the rest of the project due to start in the coming months.
More information about this project can be found on its webpage here.
Norwich to Tilbury
Norwich to Tilbury is a proposal to build a new 400 kilovolt electricity transmission connection of approximately 180 kilometres in overall length from Norwich Main Substation via Bramford Substation and a new Tilbury North Substation, into Tilbury Substation.
The proposals are part of The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the grid in generations.
Over the next decade we expect over 15,000 MW of new generation and 4,500 MW of new interconnection will need to connect in the region. The high voltage electricity network in East Anglia doesn't have sufficient capacity at present to accommodate all this new generation.
More information about this project can be found on its webpage here.
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments about the project, you can contact us by:
- Email: [email protected]
- Freephone: 0808 304 0657 Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm (An answering service is in place outside of these times)
- Write to us: FREEPOST National Grid Projects (no stamp or additional address information required)
Register for updates
You can also register your details to receive email updates on the project:
If you think our proposals could affect your land, please contact the Pelham to Rayleigh Land Referencing Team at Savills. You can call 0800 5677 200 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you can write to Savills, Unit 9, Forbes Business Centre, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7AR.
Frequently asked questions
The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the grid in generations. Our infrastructure projects across England and Wales are helping to connect more low carbon energy to homes and businesses.
The Great Grid Upgrade will play a big part in the UK government’s plan to boost homegrown power. It will help the UK switch to clean energy and make sure our electricity network is fit for the future; carrying more clean, secure energy from where it’s generated to where you need it.
- A grid that’s fit for the future
As we continue to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase clean energy generation, we’ll be using more electricity than ever. That means we’ll need a grid that’s able to carry all of this extra electricity to wherever we might need it.
- Energy security
The Great Grid Upgrade will connect clean energy that’s produced right here in the UK, increasing the self-sufficiency of our energy supplies.
- Investment close to home
By the end of the decade, National Grid will support over 55,000 more UK jobs, and be contributing £14.5bn a year to the UK economy.
National Grid has a statutory obligation under the Electricity Act 1989 to develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical system of electricity transmission, and to facilitate competition in the supply and generation of electricity.
Like much of the high voltage electricity transmission network across the country, the network in the East of England was largely built in the 1960s.This refurbishment will provide increased capacity across the electricity transmission network between the East of England and Midlands area, needed for 2028 and beyond.
By uprating existing infrastructure, we’re enhancing the capacity of the electricity network without having to build entirely new infrastructure, minimising disruption to communities and landscapes, making better use of what we already have, rather than expanding our footprint.
Without uprating, the network won’t have the capacity that’s needed to move electricity across the network from where it’s produced to where it’s needed. In addition, the substations will connect new low carbon electricity generation and storage that’s planned in the area. By reinforcing the network in the east of the country, the Pelham to Rayleigh project will allow more clean, green energy to be carried around the network.
Some of the work we undertake, such as replacing existing overhead line and works to extend substations, can be undertaken without requiring permission from the local planning authority. This is known as permitted development.
Permitted development is governed by specific regulations that allow for some types of development to proceed more easily, helping to streamline the planning process.
This project is planned to be delivered through National Grid’s permitted development rights.
Compulsory powers are a legal mechanism that allows some organisations to compulsorily access land or property without the consent of the owner, in order to access its assets such as overhead power lines or towers.
National Grid always seeks to acquire access to land voluntarily in the first instance, however sometimes this is not possible.
If you have any questions or comments about the project, you can contact us by:
- Email: [email protected]
- Freephone: 0808 304 0657 Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm (An answering service is in place outside of these times)
- Write to us: FREEPOST National Grid Projects (no stamp or additional address information required)
You can also register your details to receive email updates on the project: