PLANS have been unveiled which aim to bring a new substation to the north Essex countryside as part of a bid to put up miles of pylons.

National Grid is spearheading proposals to bring more than 18 miles of overhead and underground cables to the north Essex countryside.

The company is aiming to boost the electricity network between Twinstead and Bramford substation, near Ipswich.

The move is part of a wider scheme to reach net zero by 2050 and comment 40GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Now the National Grid is hoping to get planning permission from Braintree Council to build a new substation near Bulmer.

The site is located west of the A131 between Butlers Wood and Waldegrave Wood.

The application proposes a new 400/132 kilovolt (kv) substation including two super grid transformers, associated buildings, equipment and switch gear, a single circuit cable sealing end compound, permanent vehicular access, landscaping and drainage.

According to the Braintree Council planning report, “alternative sites for the Grid Supply Point substation were explored and there was public consultation”.

However, the plans have attracted some criticism, with Alphamstone, Gestingthorpe, the Hennys, Middleton and Twinstead Parish Council, and Wickham St Paul Parish Council objecting.

Reasons for their objections include inadequate visual assessment, impact on motorists and the A131 and impact on the landscape.

However, despite concerns, the bid has been recommended for approval at the Braintree Council planning committee meeting set to go ahead on Tuesday.

In the report, planning development manager Christopher Paggi said: “Overall, it is considered that there would be no detrimental impacts associated with the development of the substation proposal.

“The development would however create a benefit in providing the necessary infrastructure to help facilitate the distribution of low carbon electricity.

“It is considered that the benefits of the proposal would outweigh the harms.

“Against this context, it is recommended that planning permission be granted for the proposed development.”