Norwich to Tilbury - Notice of Publication of Statement of Community Consultation

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC
SECTION 47 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008 (AS AMENDED) FOR NORWICH TO TILBURY
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (“National Grid”) of National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA has published a Statement of Community Consultation (“SoCC”) for Norwich to Tilbury (“the Project”) in accordance with Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended). This is the second time the Notice of the Statement of Community Consultation has been published as it was originally published in April 2024 as part of a statutory consultation for the Project. The SoCC can be read alongside our now published additional Targeted Statutory Consultation Strategy for targeted statutory consultation on proposed changes to a part of the Project.

The Project is a proposal by National Grid to upgrade the electricity transmission system in East Anglia between Norwich and Tilbury comprising:

• a new 400 kilovolt (“kV”) electricity transmission connection of approximately 180 kilometres (“km”) in overall length from Norwich Main Substation via Bramford Substation and a new Tilbury North Substation, into Tilbury Substation comprising:

• approximately 159 km of new overhead line supported on approximately 510 steel lattice pylons (approximately 50 metres (“m”) in height) some of which are gantries (typically up to 15 m in height) within proposed Cable Sealing End (“CSE”) compounds, or exis ting or proposed substations; and

• approximately 22 km of 400 kV underground cabling some of which is located through the Dedham Vale National Landscape (formerly known as Dedham Vale AONB);

• seven new CSE compounds, each with a permanent access, to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables;

• a new 400 kV East Anglia Connection Node (“EACN”) substation, with a new permanent access, on the Tendring Peninsula. This is proposed to be an Air Insulated Switchgear (“AIS”) substation;

• a new 400 kV Tilbury North Substation to the south of Orsett Golf Course in Thurrock with access options. This is proposed to be a Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation;

• modifications to the existing National Grid Electricity Transmission overhead lines, including into and out of the new 400 kV Tilbury North and access options;

• substation extension works at the existing Norwich Main and Bramford substations to connect and support operation of the new transmission connection; and

• temporary works associated with the construction of the Project.

Third party utilities diversions and / or modifications would also be required to facilitate the construction of the Project. There would also be land required for mitigation, compensation and enhancement of the environment including Biodiversity Net Gain.

The Project would be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation. The Project would also need to comply with design safety standards including the National Electricity Transmission System (“NETS”) Security and Quality of Supply Standard, which sets out the criteria and methodology for planning and operating the NETS. This informs a suite of National Grid policies and processes, which contain details on design standards required to be met when designing, constructing and operating assets such as proposed for the Project.

The proposed application will seek authorisation for the compulsory acquisition of land and interests in and rights over land, overriding easements and other rights, the temporary use of land, and other ancillary powers.

Under Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008, National Grid has a duty to consult the community on its proposals. In accordance with paragraph 6.3.1 of the Statement of Community Consultation (“SoCC”) that was prepared for the statutory consultation that was held between 10 April and 26 July 2024, this targeted statutory consultation on proposed changes to the connection at Tilbury (Thurrock 3) will be undertaken, so far as relevant, practicable and proportionate for the proposed changes and the vicinity of the community and land affected, in accordance with the principles and methods set out in that SoCC.

This notice and the additional Targeted Statutory Consultation Strategy, which accompanies the SoCC, explains how National Grid will undertake the targeted statutory consultation, where the further consultation documents can be viewed, where public events will be held and how people can comment on the proposed changes and provide responses to this targeted statutory consultation.

The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) development, as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended).

The targeted statutory consultation will take place between 12:00 noon on 18 March 2025 and 11:59 pm on 17 April 2025. The targeted statutory consultation will focus on the changes proposed following the feedback received from the previous statutory consultation mentioned above.

The proposed changes being consulted on are:

• a new 400 kV Tilbury North Substation to the south of Orsett Golf Course in Thurrock with access options. This is proposed to be a Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation; and

• modifications to the proposed and existing National Grid Electricity Transmission overhead lines into and out of the new 400 kV Tilbury North Substation, including two new CSE compounds and access options.

The SoCC, the additional Targeted Statutory Consultation Strategy, and all other consultation materials are available to view and download free of charge on the Project website from 12:00 noon on 18 March 2025: http://www.nationalgrid.com/n-t (via the document library page).

Reference copies of the SoCC, the additional Targeted Statutory Consultation Strategy, consultation leaflet, Consultation Summary Document (including maps), EIC and Feedback Questionnaire will also be available to view free of charge from 12 noon on 18 March 2025 for the duration of the targeted statutory consultation which ends at 11:59 pm on 17 April 2025 at the following locations:

Prior to attending these locations, it is advised to check opening times.
To request a printed or alternative format copy of the SoCC and additional Targeted Statutory Consultation
Strategy, please contact the Project team via the details at the bottom of this notice.

If you have any questions about the Project or the consultation, please get in touch: