National Grid unveils plans for 60km overhead line between Weston Marsh and East Leicestershire with additional substation planned for Corby Glen
Plans for two new substations and a ‘refined’ route for a string of pylons have been unveiled as the latest round of public consultation begins on a major energy project.
National Grid has formally announced plans to install 60km of new overhead power lines between its proposed Weston Marsh substation in Lincolnshire and East Leicestershire.
These plans now include proposals for ‘up to two 400KV’ substations at Weston Marsh and locations have been identified for a 400KV substation at Corby Glen.
The possible routing for the new pylons runs from Weston Marsh to the South Forty Foot Drain, then onto Irnham, North and South Witham and then towards the A607.
National Grid has now launched a eight-week consultation, which runs from today (Wednesday, June 11), on this plan. It is also asking the public for their views on changes to the 140km line of pylons which are planned to run between Grimsby and Walpole, near King’s Lynn. The consultations both close on August 6.
Changes to the route around Weston Hills and Hubbert’s Bridge are being included within the ‘refined proposals’ which are out to public consultation.
National Grid says the current electricity transmission network - previously built around coal fired power stations - needs to be upgraded to carry the volume of renewable energy which is being produced and the firm is proposing five new electricity transmission projects in Lincolnshire - which include the Eastern Green link cable projects.
Ben Muncey, project director for the two projects, commented: “The way we generate electricity has changed and is continuing to change. As our demand for electricity grows, this project will connect our homes, businesses and public services to sources of home-grown British energy which will lower our electricity bills in the long-term and make us more energy independent.
“We thank everyone who commented on the initial proposals during our last round of consultation. The feedback was critical to refining the proposed route and we look forward to engaging the community around the updated plans.”
The National Grid’s plans to build a substation in Weston Marsh has already created some anger from nearby residents but it plays a major role in a number of projects including the Grimsby to Walpole and East Leicestershire.
Weston Marsh is also earmarked to be taking electricity generated by the 1,100 hectare Meridian Solar Farm, which could be built on land around Crowland, Shepeau Stow and Sutton St Edmund. None of the proposals have yet been granted planning permission which be decided by Government ministers and not local planners.
The Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire project includes proposals to build 60km of new high voltage overhead line - including 50m towers - in Lincolnshire. Bosses say that it is uneconomical to use underground cables. But they will be upgrading 55km of existing cable between East Leicestershire and and the existing Grendon substation in Northamptonshire.
National Grid officials - who say that the power will be used in Lincolnshire and the East Midlands - say they are going to submit a planning application for the Weston Marsh substation in 2027 with a view to start building 2029.
While the planning application for Corby Glen is not due to be submitted until 2028.
Mr Muncey added: “This reinforcement between Weston Marsh and East Leicestershire is essential to meet the UK’s forecasted energy demand doubling by 2050 and is part of a wider programme to upgrade the entire network.
“As our demand for electricity grows, this project will connect our homes, businesses and public services to sources of home-grown British energy, making us more energy independent. We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and we welcome feedback on our proposals.”
National Grid is launching a second stage consultation on its Grimsby to Walpole pylon plan - which will see pylons stretch across 140km of the Lincolnshire coastline.
The company has made a number of changes to the proposal as a result of its previous round of consultation.
These include:
- ‘Refining’ the route around Weston Hills to avoid residential properties - although this detail has not been released at the time of writing.
- The introduction of low-height pylons to reduce effects on the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape.
- The route has been changed to avoid the wind turbines and solar farm at The Hollies renewable energy development in East Lindsey
- Refined the proposed route near Hubbert’s Bridge to avoid properties and Boston Aerodrome
- The proposed route has been refined to increase the distance between the overhead line and Strubby Airfield to reduce potential safety and operational impacts
- It has been changed near Newton-in-the-isle to avoid a high-pressure gas pipeline
- The proposed route at Covenham Saint Bartholemew has been refined to reduce potential impacts on users of The Thomas Centre, a holiday park for users with special educational needs and disabilities
- It has also been refined to avoid the holiday cottages located on the bank of Steeping River in Little Steeping
- The route has also been altered to avoid Bradley Road planned solar arrays, and within associated skylark mitigation area.
Communities hosting this infrastructure, under new Government rules, could receive cash to pay for improvements in their areas.
Payments of up to £220,000 per kilometre of pylons and £530,000 for substations could be dished out to communities on the routes. These payments could be available for one year only but National Grid says it has aspirations for it to go beyond that. The firm is currently working on the governance on the distribution of this money.
Consultation events for the Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire proposals will be held at:
- Corby Glen Village Hall (Ron Dawson Memorial Hall), on Saturday, June 21, 2pm-7pm
- Surfleet Village Hall Thursday, June 26, 11am-5pm
- Great Doddington Memorial Hall Friday, June 27, 1pm-7pm
- Morton Village Hall Saturday, June 28, 11am-4pm
- Braybrooke Village Hall Thursday, July 3, 2pm-7pm
- South Witham Village Hall Friday, July 4, 1pm-7pm
- Ab Kettleby Community Hall (within Ab Kettleby School), Saturday, July 5, 11am-4pm
- Weston Village Hall* Thursday 10 July 1pm-7pm which is a joing event with Grimsby to Walpole consutlation
A number of webinairs will also be held
- Wednesday, June 18: General overview of proposals 1-2pm
- Tuesday 15 July: Sections 1, 2 and 3 (covering Weston Marsh, Irnham, and South Witham) 6.30-7.30pm
- Thursday 17 July: Sections 4 and 5 (covering North and South Witham – A607 and Wartnaby) 6.30-7.30pm
- Monday 21 July: Reconductoring Section 6.30-7.30pm
- Thursday 24 July: General overview of proposals 6.30-7.30pm
You can give your views on the Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Project by visiting the project website: nationalgrid.com/wmel or email contactwmel@nationalgrid.com
Alternatively you ca write to: Freepost WM TO EL or call: 0800 138 9191.
The deadline for feedback is 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 6.
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