BRAINTREE Council has voiced concerns over power pylon plans which bosses claim would impact “numerous parts” of the district.

National Grid is proposing to upgrade the electricity infrastructure between Norwich and Tilbury, previously known as East Anglia Green.

The proposals would see a new 400kV electricity transmission line built between Norwich and Tilbury, running a distance of 180km, and a new 400kV connection substation in the Tendring district.

It will be made up mostly of overhead lines and pylons, along with some underground cables through and near to the Dedham Vale Area and in part in the Braintree district, where it crosses an existing 400kV overhead line.

In a formal response to National Grid’s latest consultation, councillors confirmed the position at a local plan sub-committee last week.

The council’s response says numerous parts of the Braintree district would be impacted by the identified route, which enters the district near Coggeshall and goes between Silver End and Witham before exiting the district near Fairstead and Fuller Street.

It says alternative options have not been fully explored or considered to ensure minimal impact on the district.

Concern was raised over visual impacts of the plans and more detail required on how the pylons could be amended or adjusted to reduce any heritage harm, with consideration given to Silver End and Kelvedon conservation areas.

The council also highlighted the potential landscape and visual effects on the nearby river valleys and how the additional pylons do not take into account the likely "significant impact" on the local tourism industry.

Council planning and infrastructure boss Gabrielle Spray said: “Whilst we are supportive of measures to help reduce climate change impact, the scale of development is significant and we are concerned the proposed route will have a negative impact on local ecology, heritage assets and landscape.

“The proposals will rightly cause concern for our communities, and we will continue to reiterate our views and those of residents, in the strongest manner, viable, alternative options need to be considered to avoid a detrimental impact on residents, local businesses and tourism.

“We would urge residents to use this opportunity to have their say.”

National Grid’s consultation closes on August 21.

For more information, visit nationalgrid.com.

A statutory public consultation on the proposals is set to follow in 2024.

National Grid plans to submit an application for a development consent order to central government in 2025.