East Anglia & South-Essex – Development Consent Order application for Norwich to Tilbury transmission line.

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER BY THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO) UNDER SECTION 56 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

THE NATIONAL GRID (NORWICH TO TILBURY) DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

(APPLICATION REFERENCE: EN020027)

REGULATION 9 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

(APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009

REGULATION 16 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

(ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2017

Notice is hereby given that the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (‘the Secretary of State’)) has accepted an application made by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (company number 02366977) of National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA (‘the Applicant’) for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Application’). The Application (Reference No. EN020027) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State c/o the Planning Inspectorate on 29 August 2025 and accepted for Examination on 26 September 2025.

Summary of the Application

Norwich to Tilbury (‘the Project’), is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (‘NSIP’).

The Project principally comprises:

A new 400 kilovolt (kV) electricity transmission connection of approximately 180 km overall length from Norwich Main Substation to Tilbury Substation via Bramford Substation, a new EACN Substation and a new Tilbury North Substation, including:

• Approximately 159 km of new overhead line supported on approximately 509 pylons, either standard steel lattice pylons (approximately 50 m in height) or low height steel lattice pylons (approximately 40 m in height) and some of which would be gantries (typically up to 15 m in height) within proposed Cable Sealing End (CSE) compounds or existing or proposed substations

• Approximately 21 km of 400 kV underground cabling, some of which would be located through the Dedham Vale National Landscape (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB))

• Up to seven new CSE compounds (with permanent access) to connect the overhead lines to the underground cables

• Modification works to connect into the existing Norwich Main Substation and a substation extension at the existing Bramford Substation

• A new 400 kV substation on the Tendring Peninsula, referred to as the EACN Substation (with a new permanent access). This is proposed to be an Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) substation

• A new 400 kV substation to the south of Orsett Golf Course in Essex, referred to as the Tilbury North Substation (with a new permanent access). This is proposed to be a Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation

• Modifications to the existing National Grid Electricity Transmission overhead lines to facilitate the connection of the existing network into the new Tilbury North Substation to provide connection to the Tilbury Substation

• Ancillary and/or temporary works associated with the construction of the Project.

In addition, third party utilities diversions and/or modifications would be required to facilitate the construction of the Project. There would also be land required for environmental mitigation and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

As well as the permanent infrastructure, land would also be required temporarily for construction activities including, for example, working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, welfare, storage and temporary construction access.

A map showing the location of the Project can be viewed online at: https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN020027-000240-2.1%20Location%20and%20Master%20Key%20Plan.pdf  or by scanning the QR code at the bottom of this notice.

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 closure and permanent stopping up or diversion of public rights of way, street works and highway works, and the application and disapplication of certain legislation.

Environmental Impact Assessment Development:

The Project is Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 and accordingly an Environmental Statement accompanies the Application.

Application Form and Accompanying Documents:

The application form and the accompanying documents, plans, Environmental Statement and Non-technical Summary (‘NTS’) (‘Application Documents’) can be viewed and downloaded free of charge online on the Norwich to Tilbury page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website under the Documents tab: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN020027  

The Application Documents will be available to view online at least until the Secretary of State makes their decision whether or not to grant the Development Consent Order.

The Application Documents are available for electronic inspection via computer, free of charge from 16 October 2025 to 27 November 2025, at the following locations and times set out below:

*Please note that the opening times of the above libraries may be subject to change and it is recommended that you contact the library in advance to check the opening hours.

The Application Documents can be supplied in hard copy format on request at a cost of £0.35 per page (up to a maximum of £10,000 for the full suite of documents).

If you require a copy of the Application Documents to be supplied on a USB data stick, this can be provided free of charge (one USB data stick per household). Please use the contact details for the Applicant to request a USB data stick.

If you have any questions about the Application Documents, you can:

    Email: contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com

    Telephone: 0800 915 2497

    Write to: FREEPOST N TO T (no stamp or further address details are required).

Representations:

Any person may make representations on the Application (i.e. give notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application). Any representation must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form. This is available online and can be accessed on the Norwich to Tilbury page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website at: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN020027 and is available in hard copy as set out below.

If you require guidance on, or other methods of, obtaining and completing a Planning Inspectorate Registration and Relevant Representation Form (such as a hard copy paper form), please telephone the Planning Inspectorate on 0303 444 5000 quoting the name of the Application (Norwich to Tilbury) and the Planning Inspectorate’s reference number EN020027.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Notice: How to register to have your say and make a relevant representation, provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation and can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-how-to-register-to-have-your-say-and-make-a-relevant-representation

Please note that representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate
no later than 23:59 on 27 November 2025.

A completed hard copy form to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate should be sent to:
The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN

If your interests in land are not affected or your organisation is not on a list of prescribed bodies, please note that if you want to remain informed of the examination process and entitled to make representations you must fill in a Registration and Relevant Representation Form to register as an interested party even if you do not wish to make a substantive representation at this point.

Representations will be made public and will be subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s privacy policy at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notices/customer-privacy-notice#:~:text=the%20specifics%20of%20the%20personal,Development%20of%20National%20Significance%20(DNS)

QR code to access the overall route map for Norwich to Tilbury, also available at

https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN020027-000240-2.1%20Location%20and%20Master%20Key%20Plan.pdf