Shorter pylons proposed for controversial new line

National Grid have revised plans for new pylons between Grimsby and Walpole

"Low height" electricity pylons are included in revised plans for a new overhead line in Lincolnshire.

National Grid has updated its proposals for an 87-mile (140km) pylon route between Grimsby and Walpole in Norfolk.

The initial plans, which are part of The Great Grid Upgrade, faced opposition from councillors and residents due to concerns over their impact on the landscape.

A public consultation into the new proposals, which include low-height pylons on a stretch of the route through the Lincolnshire Wolds, will run from 11 June to 6 August.

In January 2024, National Grid announced plans to install 420 pylons from Grimsby, through the Lincolnshire countryside, to Walpole.

It is one of two overhead line projects being proposed in Lincolnshire, the other one running from Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire.

Earlier this year, Lincolnshire County Council wrote to the energy watchdog Ofgem urging it to scrap the plans and criticised National Grid for a lack of transparency over costs.

Protest groups, including residents living along the route, have warned of "the entire industrialisation" of coastal communities.

A National Grid spokesperson said the projects would "help connect more home-grown British energy, boosting local economies, creating jobs, and providing cleaner, more affordable energy".

The spokesperson said the pylons between Grimsby and Walpole were needed because the existing network does not have the capacity to carry the energy being generated.

Following an initial consultation, the company has revised the plans to include low-height pylons on a 4.3 mile (7km) section of the route to reduce the impact of the route on the Wolds.

In this section, the height of the pylons will be reduced from 50m (164ft) to 40m (131ft).

Feedback 'critical'

The proposed route has been changed to avoid wind turbines, a solar farm, Boston Aerodrome, and Strubby Airfield.

The new route also aims to reduce the potential impact on users of The Thomas Centre, a holiday park for users with special educational needs and disabilities, and avoid close proximity to residential properties.

Ben Muncey, project director for Grimsby to Walpole, said: "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.

"The feedback was critical to refining the proposed route and we look forward to engaging the community around the updated plans."

The Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire project involves overhead power lines from a proposed substation at Weston Marsh, near Spalding, to a connection point 37 miles (60km) away in eastern Leicestershire.

After consultation, two substations, instead of one, are now being proposed and the new pylon route will be 37 miles (60 km) long and use 50m pylons.

Two eight-week consultations, where people can share their views on the projects, will run alongside each other until Wednesday 6 August.

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