Questions remain unanswered – councils repeat objection to pylons project

11/08/26

In a closing statement to National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury examination, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have restated their objection and again called for the plan to be halted – with questions remaining unanswered over the devastating impact of the scheme for local communities, businesses, environment, heritage and landscape.

National Grid proposes 159km of new overhead lines between Norwich to Tilbury, with the route cutting through the Suffolk countryside.

It includes 21km of underground cabling, including some through the Dedham Vale national landscape, and up to seven new compounds to connect underground sections to overhead lines.

Although negotiations with National Grid have secured some improvements to planned construction practice and ecological management, in a joint closing statement submitted today, the councils said there too many questions still unanswered regarding the significant and devastating impacts of the scheme on the districts.

The councils repeated their objection to the proposal and the call they made during public hearings earlier this year for a delay to the project so other options – such as an undersea route or underground cabling – can be fully considered and costed.

Cllr Andrew Stringer, Mid Suffolk’s cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure said: “In the transition to cleaner energy, Mid Suffolk will more than play its part and yet the project has completely failed to explore other options or secure any where close to appropriate mitigation and compensation.

“Despite repeated requests, no measures have been included to coordinate energy infrastructure including to enable enhanced connectivity, generation and storage capacity for Freeport East at Gateway 14 and the wider Stowmarket area.

“We remain of the view that this project is premature at best, and, in its current form, will threaten food production, devastate biodiversity, decimate local tourism and impoverish our unique heritage.”

Babergh District Council’s cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure, Cllr Sallie Davies said: “We all know that grid reinforcement is necessary, but at what cost?

“Our district’s landscape is highly valued with many cultural and historic associations, and sensitive views that contribute to the unique character and cultural importance of Babergh and the wider region. These are views that have been immortalised by Constable and Gainsborough.

“This scheme fails to adequately mitigate for the inevitable impact on surrounding landscape, our ecology and heritage assets and the devastating impact that this would have for our communities, businesses and tourist economy.”

An examining authority appointed by the Planning Inspectorate now has three months to review the evidence, with the final decision over the scheme currently resting with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Miatta Fahnbulleh, and expected by February 2027.

In the event of the scheme being given the go-ahead despite their opposition, the councils have also requested a final opportunity to ‘check and challenge’ as required, with the addition of a compliance monitoring, reporting and enforcement strategy within the development consent order – meaning developers working more closely with local authorities and greater transparency for local communities. Whether this is adopted will also be a decision for the examining authority and Secretary of State.