A paper to be presented by Councillor Richard Rout at the Cabinet meeting on 21 May 2024, will recommend that the council’s position is to call for a pause to consider alternative options, such as an offshore solution, or High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) undergrounding.
It will also object to the current proposals for a number of reasons, including:
- the need for additional undergrounding of cables in the Waveney Valley and elsewhere along the route
- the need for much greater clarity regarding the relationship between the proposed project and proposed solar projects, and the cumulative effects
- potentially serious implications for at least six airfields, including pylons close to runways and, in some cases, possibly stopping all flying
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Environment, said:
“Our message to National Grid and Ofgem is that the current proposals must be put on hold so that the alternative solutions, which do not involve pylons, can be properly explored.
“We support the government’s desire for energy security for the UK but this must be achieved appropriately and fairly where our communities, and the local environment, will feel the impact from energy projects.
“Our work so far has helped change the proposals, by introducing more undergrounding of cables and altering the location of parts of the scheme. But this does not go nearly far enough, and in our opinion, there are significant issues which remain - not least adequate research into offshore solutions or HVDC, as well as more clarity around the cumulative impact of other energy projects. Therefore, we have no choice but to object to the proposed scheme.”
A number of recent reports help to support the council’s position:
The ESO East Anglia Network Study by The National Grid Electricity System Operator, explored better ways to connect offshore wind in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. The council previously stated that it was critical for National Grid to take these findings into consideration as they continue planning their Great Grid Upgrade, including the Norwich to Tilbury project.
The “Valued Landscape Assessment” of the Waveney Valley, commissioned by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, acts as a timely reminder to National Grid, of the need to respond effectively and robustly to the sensitivities of Suffolk’s landscapes and communities.
The Hiorns Smart Energy Networks report, also commissioned by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, suggested that it is possible for the Norwich to Tilbury project to be paused in order to consider alternatives.
The Norwich to Tilbury project is currently in a statutory consultation phase until 18 June 2024, and it is expected to submit its application to the Planning Inspectorate in 2025.
