Bramford to Twinstead - Compulsory Acquisition for Electricity Transmission Line
What is happening?
NOTICE OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION UNDER SECTION 134(7) OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008
THE NATIONAL GRID (BRAMFORD TO TWINSTEAD REINFORCEMENT) ORDER 2024
NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION
The above Order, made under the Planning Act 2008 by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and published on 12 September 2024, includes provision authorising the compulsory acquisition of land, of existing rights over land and of rights over land by creating new rights over it as described in Schedule 1 and more particularly described in the Order and Book of Reference accompanying the Order.
The Order includes provision authorising the acquisition for the purpose of the construction and operation of a new electricity transmission line over approximately 29km comprising of overhead lines, underground cables and grid supply point substation, alongside the removal of 25km of the existing distribution network and various ancillary works.
The Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement ("the project") will include the following principal components:
- the installation of approximately 18 kilometres of new overhead electricity transmission line (consisting of approximately 50 new pylons and conductors);
- the installation of approximately 11 kilometres of new underground electricity transmission line (with associated joint bays and above ground link pillars);
- the construction of four Cable Sealing End ("CSE") Compounds which would be required in order to facilitate the transition between the overhead electric line and underground cable technology. Each CSE will be situated within a fenced compound, and contain electrical equipment, support structures, control building and a permanent access track;
- the removal of approximately 27.5 kilometres of existing overhead electric line and associated pylons (comprising 25 kilometres of existing overhead distribution (132kV) electric line between Burstall Bridge and Twinstead Tee, and 2.5 kilometres of the existing overhead transmission (400kV) electric line to the south of Twinstead Tee); and
- the construction and operation of a new grid supply point ("GSP") substation to facilitate the removal of the existing overhead electricity distribution line. The GSP substation would include associated works, including replacement pylons, a single circuit sealing end compound and underground cables to tie the lines to the substation into the existing 400kV and 132kV networks.
Other ancillary activities would be required to facilitate construction and operation of the project, including (but not limited to):
- modifications to, and realignment of sections of existing overhead lines, including pylons;
- temporary land to facilitate construction activities including temporary amendments to the public highway, public rights of way, working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, welfare, storage and access;
- temporary infrastructure to facilitate construction activities such as amendments to the highway, pylons and overhead line diversions, scaffolding to safeguard existing crossings and watercourse crossings;
- diversion of third-party assets and land drainage from the construction and operational footprint; and
- mitigation, compensation and enhancement of the environment as a result of the environmental assessment process, and National Grid’s commitments to Biodiversity Net Gain.
A hard copy of the Order as made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero together with copies of the Secretary of State’s decision letter and the Examining Authority’s report has been deposited at the following locations and may be inspected at the hours set out below:
Library | Address | Opening Hours |
Hadleigh Library | 29 High Street, Hadleigh, IP7 5AG | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 09:00 – 17:00 Wednesday: 09:00 – 17:00 Thursday: 09:00 – 18:00 Friday: 09:00 – 17:00 Saturday: 09:30 – 17:00 Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00 |
Sible Hedingham Library | 169 Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, CO9 3PX | Monday: 09:00 – 13:00 Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 14:00 – 19:00 Thursday: 14:00 – 19:00 Friday: Closed Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00 Sunday: Closed |
Sudbury Library | Market Hill, Sudbury, CO10 2EN | Monday: 09:00 – 17:00 Tuesday: 09:00 – 19:30 Wednesday: 09:00 – 17:00 Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00 Friday: 09:00 – 17:00 Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00 Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00 |
A soft copy of the Order as made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, together with copies of the Secretary of State’s decision letter and the Examining Authority’s report, is available to view online through the Planning Inspectorate’s website at:
https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN020002
Hard copies of these documents can also be supplied at a cost of £0.35 per page. If you would like to request a hard copy of any of the documents, please contact National Grid using the contact details at the end of this notice.
A person aggrieved by the Order may challenge the Order only in accordance with section 118 of the Planning Act 2008, which stipulates that any proceeding must be brought by filing a claim form for judicial review during the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the Order was published (or, if later, the day on which the statement of reasons for making the Order is published).
Once the provision in the Order authorising compulsory acquisition comes into force, National Grid Electricity Transmission plc ("National Grid") and, in respect of the UKPN Works (as defined in Article 2 of the Order), UK Power Networks Holdings Limited and/or its affiliate Eastern Power Networks plc (together "UKPN"), may acquire any of the land (including any existing rights and / or new rights) described in Schedule 1 below by executing a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981. A statement on the effect of Parts 2 and 3 of that Act is set out in Schedule 2.
Any person who would be entitled to claim compensation if a general vesting declaration were executed is invited to give National Grid information about the person’s name, address and interest in land, using a prescribed form.
The prescribed form is set out in Schedule 3 and should be returned to National Grid at the following address:
Post: Bruton Knowles, Olympus House, Olympus Park, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4NF
Email: bramford-twinstead@brutonknowles.co.uk
Date: 26 September 2024
James Greenhalgh
Project Director
For and on behalf of National Grid Electricity Transmission plc
SCHEDULE 1
DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND, EXISTING RIGHTS AND NEW RIGHTS
The Order land (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) is shown on the Land Plans (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) and described in the Book of Reference (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) within the local authority areas of Suffolk County Council, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council, Essex County Council and Braintree District Council.
This notice relates to so much of the Order land as is shown on the Land Plans shaded brown (compulsory acquisition of land), green (compulsory acquisition of rights – overhead line), orange (compulsory acquisition of rights – underground cable), blue (compulsory acquisition of rights of access) and dark green (compulsory acquisition of rights for biodiversity net gain).
Under the powers granted in the Order:
(a) National Grid may acquire compulsorily so much of the Order land as is specified by Article 22 (compulsory acquisition of land) of the Order for the construction, operation and maintenance of the authorised development (including the UKPN Works) (each as defined in Article 2 of the Order) or as is incidental to, or required to facilitate, the authorised development;
(b) UKPN may acquire compulsorily so much of the Order land as is specified by Article 22 (compulsory acquisition of land) of the Order for the construction, operation and maintenance of that part of the UKPN Works forming part of Work No. 9 only;
(c) National Grid and, in respect of the UKPN Works only, UKPN may acquire compulsorily such rights over the Order land by creating them as well as by acquiring rights already in existence, and imposing them compulsorily against part of the Order land, as is authorised by Article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights) of the Order; and
(d) National Grid and, in respect of the UKPN Works only, UKPN may acquire compulsorily so much of the subsoil of and airspace over the Order land as is specified by Article 24 (acquisition of subsoil or airspace only) of the Order as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision instead of acquiring the whole of the land.
The Order includes powers to extinguish or suspend all private rights and restrictive covenants over the land described in Article 36 and also authorises the overriding of easements and other rights in accordance with Article 37.
National Grid and, in respect of the UKPN Works only, UKPN may also temporarily use the Order land to carry out the authorised development (as defined in Article 2 of the Order) pursuant to Articles 25 and 26 (respectively) of the Order and may temporarily use the Order land to maintain the authorised development pursuant to Article 27 of the Order.
Description of the Order land:
The Order land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition is as described in the table below:
Section AB | Bramford Substation/Hintlesham (Overhead Line) |
Section AB is approximately 7.1 km in length. The majority of the Section is characterised as farmland for varying uses, predominantly agricultural. To the very east of the Section, at Bramford, there is an existing National Grid substation, situated on Bullen Lane. From the substation the Section runs west, concluding at Hadleigh Railway Walk. Within Section AB, an area of Order land of approximately 6.7ha is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of land, whilst approximately 156ha of land is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of new rights to be acquired or restrictions imposed. |
Section C | Brett Valley (Overhead Line) |
Hadleigh Railway Walk forms the boundary between Section AB: Hintlesham, and Section C: Brett Valley. This Section is predominantly agricultural in character with some residential in proximity, primarily in Upper Layham situated to the south of the proposed new overhead line. The route crosses the River Brett in this Section. This section has a total approximate length of 2.2km. This section comprises of approximately 13.7ha of Order land, with no land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition of land and 13.7ha of land subject to powers of c |
Section D | Polstead (Overhead Line and Underground Cable) |
This Section is predominately agricultural and spans from Lower Layham in the east to the west of Polstead Heath and is approximately 3.4km in length. Layham Quarry is located within this Section and is an existing safeguarded quarry site which is also allocated for an extension to extract minerals. Section D totals approximately 40ha of Order land, including 4.7ha of land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of land and 35.3ha of land subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of new rights to be acquired or restrictions imposed. |
Section E | Dedham Vale AONB (Underground Cable) |
This Section begins west of Polstead Heath crossing part of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Section ends at Leavenheath, is primarily agricultural in character and includes pockets of woodland. This section has a total approximate length of 3.1km. This Section totals an approximate area of Order land of 35.8ha, none of which is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition. All of the land (35.8ha) in Section E is, however, subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of new rights to be acquired or restrictions imposed. |
Section F | Leavenheath/Assington (Overhead Line and Underground Cable) |
In Section F, the route runs between the villages of Leavenheath and Assington through an agricultural landscape interspersed with blocks of woodland, some of which are significant. In this Section, the route crosses the A134 Sudbury to Colchester Road. The approximate length of this Section is 4.6km. Section F comprises of approximately 2.6ha of land which is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of land and 80.6ha which is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of new rights to be acquired or restrictions imposed, giving a total area of Order land of approximately 83.2ha. |
Section H | GSP Substation |
This Section is 3.8km length and comprises 21.8ha of Order land, of which 7.7ha is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition of land and 14.1ha is subject to powers of compulsory acquisition in respect of new rights to be acquired or restrictions imposed. |
Description of the new rights:
The following classes of new rights as detailed more fully in the Book of Reference are sought over the land described above for the benefit of the Order land:
Class | Class | Colour on Land Plans | Description of Class of Right |
1 | Compulsory acquisition of land | Brown | Acquisition of all interests and rights in the land. |
2 |
| Green | Acquisition of rights by the creation of new rights, the imposition of restrictions, or the acquisition of existing rights or benefits of existing restrictions; a) with or without vehicles, plant and equipment to enter the land to construct the overhead electric line and thereafter to use, retain, inspect, maintain, repair, alter, renew and replace or remove; b) with or without vehicles, plant and equipment to enter the land to fell, trim or lop trees and bushes which may obstruct or interfere with the rights sought by the undertaker; c) with or without vehicles, plant and equipment to enter the land to access any adjoining land; d) with or without vehicles, plant and equipment to enter the land to exercise the rights over and across any access route; e) to require the landowner not to do or suffer anything to be done upon the land which may interfere with or cause damage to the overhead electric line, including without limitation impose clearance restrictions, not to erect any building or structure or allow any plant or tree to grow within the land, not to change the level of the surface, ground cover or composition of the land or do or allow to be done anything that may cause the level of the surface, ground cover or composition to be altered, not to drill, dig or break up the land; f) to fly over, use on, and recover from the land robots, helicopters, drones, gadgets or similar devices either remote controlled or autonomous, including for the purposes of inspection and maintenance; g) to construct and install land drains (including all necessary supports) on the land, and thereafter to retain and make use of, including from time to time to inspect, cleanse, maintain, repair, remove, reinstate, renew, alter and replace, the same; h) to carry out any other works, including environmental mitigation, necessary or expedient to the land and listed in Schedule 1 of the Order; and i) to carry out any activities ancillary or incidental thereto. |
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From
12-Sept-2024
To
24-Oct-2024
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