National Grid launches further consultation in the Stour Valley for Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement proposals  

National Grid is consulting on changes to the Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement proposals in the western part of the Stour Valley. The consultation will also show smaller changes to the plans across the wider route of the proposed reinforcement. The consultation will run for four weeks from Thursday 8 September to Friday 7 October 2022.

After reviewing feedback received during statutory consultation, undertaking studies, and holding further landowner discussions, National Grid are proposing to change the route of underground cables in the western part of the Stour Valley.  It is also proposed to install a section of these underground cables using trenchless construction methods, which means there would be no need to dig trenches in order to install the cables.

National Grid encourages those interested in the proposals to visit the project website, www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead from 8 September to find out more.  

Liam Walker, Project Director, commented: “This new connection between Bramford and Twinstead is essential to carry more clean energy to homes and businesses across the UK, and to help the country reach Net Zero by 2050. We thank everyone who has already commented on the plans, your feedback has been essential in helping us to develop our proposals. We look forward to hearing your further feedback on the changes we have made.”

Members of the public can take part in the consultation and speak with National Grid’s team by attending the public exhibition, the online webinar, by booking a slot at our ‘ask the experts’ session or by visiting the project website. Paper copies of consultation materials are also available to view at several locations in the local area.  

The following table shows when and where the community exhibition is being held:

The following table shows when and where the ask the experts session is being held. Note, to attend this session requires an appointment. Appointments can be booked online, by email or over the telephone.   

The following table shows when the webinar will take place. For more information and to sign up, please visit www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead.

The following table shows the deposit locations and opening times:

All information about the consultation and how to give feedback can be found on the project website, www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead.

Residents who prefer to respond to the consultation via post can receive a printed copy of the feedback form and freepost envelope by calling the telephone information line on 0808 196 1515.

Residents within the immediate vicinity of proposed changes will also receive a newsletter with more information on the consultation. Landowners affected by changes on their land across the route will be written to directly.

Notes to editors

Contact for media information only: [email protected]

The construction of the Bramford to Twinstead transmission connection requires the granting of a Development Consent Order (DCO). This is a special type of planning application for nationally significant infrastructure projects, where an independent panel of inspectors is appointed to review the plans. Once submitted, it can take up to 18 months before a decision is made.  The inspectors will issue a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who will make the final decision. National Grid anticipates submitting a DCO application for the Bramford to Twinstead project early next year.

About National Grid
National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system, connecting millions of people and businesses to the energy they use every day. National Grid is working to build a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system that serves everyone, powering the future of our homes, transport and industry.

National Grid Electricity Transmission, owns, builds and maintains the electricity transmission network in England and Wales. It is National Grid Electricity Transmission that is developing the plans for the Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement.

Consultation
To ensure everyone has access to the information and is able to participate in the consultation, National Grid is holding both face to face and online public events. 

They will provide detailed information about its proposals on its dedicated project website as well as providing information through more traditional consultation methods, such as a public exhibition, newsletter and posting paper copies. Members of the public will have opportunity to provide their comments online or via post. Their feedback will help inform the development of the proposals.

Background
The existing transmission network in East Anglia was developed in the 1960s to meet electricity demand in the area. Until today it has been able to meet that demand and provide around 3.5 GW of power carrying capability out of the region. By 2030, the amount of renewable and low carbon energy connecting to the network will dramatically increase; just under 23 GW is contracted to connect in East Anglia by the end of this decade.

The existing network in East Anglia does not have the capability needed to reliably and securely transport all the energy that will be connected by 2030 while operating to the required standards. Feeding into Bramford substation from the north and east there are three electricity transmission lines – carrying power generated by the existing Sizewell B station and offshore wind farms.  West of Bramford out to Twinstead Tee, there is currently only one electricity transmission line taking that power out to the wider network.

Between 2009 and 2013 work was previously undertaken to develop proposals to add this much needed network capability. Changes to when planned new generation would come online in East Anglia meant that work was put on hold at the end of 2013. In 2020 National Grid held a preliminary consultation and from 25 January to 21 March 2022 they held a statutory consultation on the proposals. In this period, over 16,000 people viewed the project website, 250 attended face to face events and 37 the online webinars. Now, National Grid is holding a third consultation specifically for the Stour Valley area.

The proposals
The plans for the reinforcement include building a new 400 kV electricity transmission reinforcement between Bramford substation and Twinstead Tee, comprising 19km of overhead line and 10km of underground cables. National Grid would also remove around 27km of existing pylons. 

More information can be found at www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead.