‘Compensation’ plan
The government’s new energy infrastructure plan is key to their commitment to meet their carbon reduction target. They are trying to avoid a public backlash against new pylon infrastructure with a plan to reduce the bills of those affected.
Homes in East Anglia within 500 metres of a long line of new pylons could receive a government discount of about £2500 over ten years, amounting to £250 a year off their energy bills. However, campaigners have said that money is simply a “sweetener” and that proper compensation should be offered.
The 184km pylon line is proposed from near Norwich in Norfolk to Tilbury in Essex, to carry electricity generated by wind farms in the North Sea, towards London.
The proposal is to lay underground cables in the Dedham Vale Area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and parts of the Stour Valley; but for most of the route, the pylons and cables will be sited across the countryside, visible to all who enjoy the rural environment or live there.
Residents and other protestors in the group, Pylons East Anglia, have been running a vigorous campaign against the plans since April 2022. They suggest alternative methods such as an Integrated offshore grid, or ‘undergrounding’, will not blight the countryside.
Council opposition
Essex County Council is among several councils opposing the National Grid plan to build this line of pylons, each 50 metres tall, across the East of England, including a large stretch in Essex.
They say the plans would harm the countryside and, in some cases, “seriously undermine” major housing developments, such as Dunton Hills Garden Village in Brentwood, which already has planning approval from the local council. The plan for the garden village, with its 3,700 homes and four schools, is right in the way of the National Grid’s proposed line of pylons.
The new village is a significant part of Brentwood Borough Council’s future housing plan but has been in limbo ever since National Grid announced its plan for the pylons in 2022.
Essex residents’ concerns
Elsewhere in Essex, people in Chelmsford worry the pylons could threaten an ancient settlement near Little and Great Waltham. It’s thought the settlement could be as old as Stonehenge, but the pylons could carve through it as it does not have a protected status.
Rosie Pearson, chairman of the Community Planning Alliance, and founder of the Pylons East Anglia campaign group, said of the £2500 compensation idea:
“It’s patronising, poorly thought out and doesn’t solve any problems at all. It won’t speed up the infrastructure, which is what it’s meant to do, because no one thinks it’s a good idea. It will simply add to consumers’ bills.
“What they should do instead is look at the various alternatives to pylons that are cheaper and better, and they should fully compensate people when they’re out of pocket — not just give token gestures.
“We are looking at full compensation, so if people can’t sell their house, they need to have their house bought off them at full market price. If a business is impacted, then it has to be fully compensated. They’re confused. These are benefits, not compensation, and they’re flipping between the two words. It’s a sweetener.”
Planning reforms
The potential offer comes as major infrastructure projects, including new roads, bypasses and railway lines, will be accelerated under a major shake-up to planning processes.
The landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to be introduced in Parliament this week, will set out how the delivery process for critical infrastructure will be streamlined to boost growth.
Ministers will also press ahead with reforms to current laws to speed up delivery and scale back bureaucracy.
For the pylons project, on 17 and 18 March, National Grid is holding three webinars for Essex residents on changes to the plans in Essex and Thurrock. Click here if you are interested in attending.
