By lyndamyer
In order to constructing a new cable tunnel that will link Tilbury in Essex to Gravesend in Kent, National Grid has started up a public consultation.
Considering that the aging Thames Cable Tunnel was built over 50 years ago and has come to the end of its useful life, the Grain to Tilbury project is due to replace this project with delivery of a new headhouse at each end of the tunnel.
The usage of these headhouses will be as access points for National Grid workers and both is going to require planning permission from both Thurrock and Gravesham Council.
Additionally, a new pylon at each headhouse site will need to be installed later in 2027 or 2028.
The planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act will be required in both Thurrock and Gravesham for building the new cable tunnel under the River Thames, hence the consultation on the plans is now live and will run for four weeks until Sunday 29 October 2023.
The feedback from the consultation is slated to be used by National Grid to inform plans before it sends it planning applications to Thurrock Council and Gravesham Council.
The utilities company is also planning the later refurbishment of the existing overhead line between Tilbury, Kingsnorth and the Isle of Grain. This phase of works is not planned until 2028 and does not form part of the current consultation.
As part of a wider program of infrastructure upgrades, the Grain to Tilbury proposal planned by National Grid across England and Wales.
In order to powering all homes and businesses with green energy by 2030, the Great Grid Upgrade is going to play a big part in the UK government’s plan.
According to National Grid lead project manager Bryan Truscott: “The Grain to Tilbury project is essential to upgrade the energy network in Kent and Essex to ensure that we can continue to carry more clean energy to homes and businesses, and help the country reach net zero by 2050. Local people can take part in the consultation and speak with our team by attending one of our public consultation events, joining an online webinar, or by visiting the project website.”
Linking Scotland to England through a 436km long subsea transmission cable, the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever received planning consent in August.
The responsibility of delivering this 525kV, 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable will be up to a joint venture between National Grid and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission.
