Tuesday 3 September 2013

National Grid picks location for new electricity substation

National Grid has picked a site south of Sudbury as the preferred location for a new electricity substation.

The decision follows a public consultation earlier this year to site the substation on a field with an existing 400,000 volt overhead line running through it. The substation is needed as part of a wider overhead line and underground cable connection project in Suffolk and Essex.

It will allow National Grid to take down more than 25km of an existing lower voltage line, including 83 smaller pylons to help reduce the visual impact of the proposed new higher voltage overhead line. The substation will ensure electricity supplies to north Essex are maintained once the existing lower voltage line is removed.

Brian Smethurst, Senior Project Manager for National Grid said: "We have consulted extensively with residents and specialist bodies and have listened to their concerns on a wide range of issues from the landscape and ecology to heritage and transport.

“Having carefully reviewed all the options and potential locations, we believe this is the best option. The site is already well screened by two large areas of woodland, with scope for more landscaping and there is good access from the A131.”

National Grid consulted residents on three possible locations for a new substation – land north of Colne Valley Farm Park, land at Delyvn’s Lane and the site off the A131.