MP James Wild calls for review after report reveals pylon scheme from Grimsby to Walpole could be cheaper with underground cables
MP James Wild has called for a review of options after a report revealed that plans for 87 miles of electricity lines could be made cheaper if the cables are fed underground.
National Grid’s controversial infrastructure plans would see overhead lines on pylons run from West Norfolk to Lincolnshire, covering nearly 90 miles of land.
There have been numerous complaints about the scheme - earlier this year, villagers in the West Walton and Walpole areas mounted a campaign arguing that the 50m-high pylons will have a “massive impact on the landscape, environment, natural habitats, tourism and agriculture”.
Now, a review into plans for a similar scheme running from Norwich to Tilbury has revealed that burying cables is cheaper than overhead cables over the long term - despite the Government previously claiming that it would be “more expensive”.
Tory MPs have since described the plans as “reckless” - and this could now give hope to those in West Norfolk who do not want to see the pylons erected in our area.
James Wild, the North West Norfolk MP, told the Lynn News: “I strongly oppose National Grid’s current Grimsby to Walpole plans for 90 miles of pylons and new substations and I have raised concerns in Parliament on behalf of constituents who are rightly worried about the impact on our communities, countryside, and farmland.
“While investment is needed to connect renewable energy sources, it's crucial we do so with minimal impact. I’ve urged the Energy Secretary and National Grid to consider properly underground and offshore options.
“The work I supported on the Norwich to Tilbury project underlines the importance of looking at all options rather than rushing to meet a costly and arbitrary deadline as the Government appears committed to doing.”
National Grid unveiled its early-stage proposals at the start of this year, describing it as a key infrastructure project in the UK’s transition to a decarbonised energy system.
Grimsby to Walpole would be able to transport six gigawatts of power and connect proposed new sources of electricity that are planned to come onshore on the east coast.
As it stands, the project involves proposals to build a new 400,000 volt overhead electricity transmission line and five new substations – including one at Walpole.
A spokesperson for National Grid said: “We shared costs for the Grimsby to Walpole project at our public consultation, and with stakeholders, earlier this year and the information continues to be publicly available on the project website.
“At approximately £4.2billion for an onshore high voltage direct current underground cable alternative, £6.5billion for an onshore high voltage alternating current cable and £4.3billion for an offshore subsea cable, all are at significantly greater cost than the approximate £1billion cost of the onshore option we are proposing.
“When we are developing new electricity infrastructure projects, we consider all technology options, and share them at public consultation.
“The Government and our regulator Ofgem require us to assess our proposals against a range of factors, including value for money to bill payers and impact on the community and environment to ensure they are in line with current planning policy, our licence obligations, and net zero targets.”