Weston Marsh could be subject to more than one new electricity substation, it’s been revealed, as consultations on two huge overhead power lines through South Holland began.
The first details of the 60km overhead cables from there to east Leicestershire have also been revealed for the first time.
It would start at what National Grid describes as ‘up to two’ substations at Weston Marsh which will also be part of the 140km Grimsby to Walpole line.
The works are part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade which, it says, is ‘vital’ to meet electricity demand.
Eight-week consultations have been opened into both projects for overhead cable using pylons.
It’s the second consultation on the Grimsby and Walpole line with the route and location of pylons more finalised.
National Grid says it has listened to over 7,500 representations and changes to the proposed route include it being further away from some properties in Weston Hills.
The cables will come into South Holland east of Donington before joining the route of existing pylons just before crossing the A16 into the area identified for potentially two substations north of Weston Hills.
Speaking with ‘generators’ has led to National Grid to say ‘a further substation may be required’ in consultation documents.
“The design and setting up of two substations is still being considered and we will come back to consult on the details of these substations in a further consultation,” adding that will be in ‘early 2026.
The overhead cables would continue to Walpole by going south crossing the A151 between the roundabout near Baytree and the crossing with Cross Gate and Swindler’s Drove.
It heads south easterly past the south of Moulton, just north of Whaplode St Catherine, between Sutton St James and Sutton St Edmund before heading east south of Tydd St Giles towards a new substation at Walpole, south of an existing one.
The pylons will be roughly 50m high, but the new proposals are to be 10m lower where it’s closest to the Lincolnshire Wolds.
When asked why they couldn’t be reduced height across both proposed lines, Ben Muncey, project director for both projects said: “Throughout the length of the route we’ve considered the most considerate towers for the different locations.”
The Lincolnshire to east Leicestershire line will be entirely new 50m overhead cables, the indicative route of which would pass between Surfleet and Pinchbeck before heading north of Bourne.
It’s the first consultation on this route.
The eight-week consultations began yesterday (Wednesday, June 11) and run until August 6.
National Grid’s external affairs manager Craig Rivett says putting the cables underground is ‘four times the cost’ of the overground proposals.
Mr Muncey said: “This reinforcement between Weston Marsh and east Leicestershire is essential to meet the UK’s forecasted energy demand doubling by 2050 and is part of a wider programme to upgrade the entire network.”
On the Grimsby to Walpole proposals, Mr Muncey continued: “The way we generate electricity has changed and is continuing to change.
“As our demand for electricity grows, this project will connect our homes, businesses and public services to sources of home-grown British energy which will lower our electricity bills in the long-term and make us more energy independent.
“We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and we welcome feedback on our proposals.”
* Throughout the consultation, Spalding Library will have detailed plans from both projects.
Plans for the Grimsby to Walpole line will also be at Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge libraries during usual opening hours.
Face to face consultation events will be held in a number of locations including at Weston Village Hall on Small Drove from 1pm to 7pm on Thursday, July 10 and at Tydd St Giles Community Centre on Saturday, July 19 from 11am to 4pm.
One at Surfleet Village Hall on the Lincolnshire to East Lincolnshire consultation will take place on Thursday, June 26 from 11am to 5pm.
Details of online webinars are available along with the all the consultation documents at the respective National Grid websites.
The consultation for the Grimsby to Walpole cables is at nationalgrid.com/g-w
The consultation for the Lincolnshire to East Leicestershire cables is at nationalgrid.com/wmel
* National Grid says it ‘expects to pay millions’ into communities like South Holland with new infrastructure if plans are granted.
Recent national guidance says it should give communities £200,000 per km of new overhead cable and £530,000 per substation.
A National Grid spokesman said: ” National Grid believes communities which host new electricity infrastructure should benefit from doing so.
“In line with government guidance, we expect millions of pounds to be available to benefit local communities, and the wider area should the project achieve planning consent.
“At all the public information events there will be separate questionnaires where respondents can raise their ideas for how these funds could be invested in their local area.”
The government bill announced in March also states that those living within 500m of a new pylon would receive a discount on electricity bills of ‘up to £2,500’ for 10 years.
