Bramford to Twinstead, National Grid Reinforcement Order Hearing Dates.

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

NATIONAL GRID (BRAMFORD TO TWINSTEAD REINFORCEMENT) ORDER SECTIONS 91, 92 & 94

PLANNING ACT 2008 (AS AMENDED) ("THE 2008 ACT")

RULE 13 (6) OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

(EXAMINATION PROCEDURE) RULES 2010

NOTICE OF HEARINGS PLANNING INSPECTORATE REFERENCE EN020002

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at the dates, times and locations set out below, one compulsory acquisition hearing and two issue specific hearings will be held by the Examining Authority (appointed by the Secretary of State) for the examination of the application for development consent made by National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC ("the Applicant') for the National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) Order ("the Application").

Summary of the Project

The National Grid Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement ('the Project'), is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project ('NSIP').

The Applicant proposes to reinforce the electricity transmission network between the existing Bramford Substation in Suffolk, and Twinstead Tee in Essex. This would be achieved by the construction and operation of a new electricity transmission line over a distance of approximately 29 kilometres (km).

The reinforcement would comprise approximately 18km of overhead line (consisting of approximately 50 new pylons, and conductors) and 11km of underground cable system (with associated joint bays and above ground link pillars).

Four cable sealing end (CSE) compounds would be required to facilitate the transition between the overhead line and underground cable technology.

It is proposed that approximately 27km of existing overhead line and associated pylons would be removed as part of the proposals (25km of existing 132 kilovolts (kV) overhead line between Burstall Bridge and Twinstead Tee, and 2km of the existing 400kV overhead line to the south of Twinstead Tee). To facilitate the overhead line removal, a new grid supply point (GSP) substation is required at Butler's Wood, east of Wickham St Paul, in Essex.

Development consent is required to the extent that development is or forms part of a nationally significant infrastructure project pursuant to sections 14(1 )(b) and 16 of the Planning Act 2008, as it forms the installation of an electric line above ground which will be wholly within England, of a nominal voltage greater than 132 kilovolts and longer than two kilometres. It is for this reason that the Project falls within the remit of the Secretary of State's decision-making powers. The Project would also make provision for Associated Development for the construction or maintenance of the NSIP, including the diversion of utilities and public rights of way, provision for access, landscape works and environmental mitigation.

The Development Consent Order would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Project. The Development Consent Order would also authorise the construction of temporary and permanent accesses to the Project, the temporary stopping up or diversion of public rights of way, street works and highway works, and the application and disapplication of certain legislation. The application was accepted for examination on 23 May 2023.

Hearings

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with Sections 91, 92 and 94 of the Planning Act 2008 and Rule 13(6) of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 that hearings are due to be held by the Examining Authority for the Examination of the Application at the dates and times set out in the table below:

Hearing dates and locations

Virtual Hearings

All hearings will be "virtual hearings", that is interested persons must attend and participate virtually through Microsoft Teams. Those wishing to participate will need to register in advance with the Planning Inspectorate. A virtual option to observe will also be available through the Planning Inspectorate website for members of the public.

Those attending virtually will need to attend an "arrangement conference" 15 minutes before the scheduled time for the hearing to start.

Copies of the Application

The application can be viewed on the National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) page of the Planning Inspectorate's National Infrastructure Planning website under the Documents tab:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/bramford-to-twinstead/7ipcsection-overview

A map showing the location of the project can be found on the same website at document APP-007.

The application can also be viewed electronically, at the electronic deposit locations listed in the table below.

Please note that you will need to bring a form of identification and register as a library member in order to use a computer at these locations: