Prime Minister makes pylons intervention as second Grimsby West to Walpole pylon line consultation approaches
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated support for overhead pylon lines, as the controversial Grimsby West to Walpole overhead line approaches a future second consultation.
In his first leader's speech to a Labour Party conference as prime minister, Sir Keir indicated support for overhead pylon lines in order to provide cheaper electricity. The remarks come as National Grid continues to consider initial feedback on a proposed 140km overhead line between Grimsby West and Walpole.
A second public consultation will be held in 2025. Lincolnshire County Council and North East Lincolnshire Council have previously expressed opposition and significant concerns, respectively, with the plans. As has Martin Vickers MP, whose Brigg and Immingham constituency is directly affected by the proposed route.
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Opponents suggest underground or subsea alternatives would have less impact on the natural environment and scenery. The overhead pylons could be up to 50m high. Before National Grid announced its suggested overhead pylon line, it considered the possible costings of these alternatives, and estimated them to be much more expensive.
In North East Lincolnshire, the line's proposed route corridor heads from by National Grid's existing Grimsby West substation, to west of Laceby, bisects Barnoldby le Beck and Waltham, and could be either side of Brigsley.
During his speech the prime minister said: "If we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons overground otherwise the burden on taxpayers is too much." It was in a section that highlighted difficult decisions he indicated the Labour government would not bury its head from, where the country faced trade-offs. Another example given included some communities must live near new prisons if justice is to be served.
National Grid has previously estimated the Grimsby West to Walpole overhead pylon option would cost around £1bn. This compares to £4.4bn for an offshore alternative and £6.5bn for an onshore underground cable. The expected maintenance costs of the pylon line would also be also much lower than its alternatives, according to a May 2023 National Grid report.
Investment in power transmission lines by National Grid is paid by it upfront. Through an agreement with regulator Ofgem, upfront costs are passed onto customers over 40 years. The Grimsby West to Walpole line is part of National Grid's wider 'Great Grid Upgrade'.
The 400,000 volt (400 kV) overhead electricity transmission line would be able to transport six GW of power. Upgrades in infrastructure are needed because of expected huge increases in demand for electricity.
National Grid will hold a second public consultation in 2025, a spokesperson confirmed. "We have had more than 7,000 responses to our first stage of consultation. The project team is carefully considering those, and we will be reporting on that and how feedback has shaped and influenced our proposals at the next stage of consultation in 2025.”
Mr Vickers would like to see at least some of the line go underground to lessen the environmental and visual impact, though said it would be "a difficult task" to pursue the new government to fund National Grid to put some of the work underground. He has said he will "work with the local communities involved to do all we can to mitigate the impact".