National Grid’s Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement Project receives approval

After four years of planning and extensive engagement, National Grid’s Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement project has received backing from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. This Nationally Significant Infrastructure project will strengthen the electricity transmission network between Bramford substation in Suffolk and Twinstead Tee in Essex and is vital in supporting the UK's transition to cleaner, greener energy in line with Government Net Zero targets.

Gillespies’ landscape planning team was appointed in 2020 through their long-standing position on the National Grid Environmental Services Framework to undertake a comprehensive landscape assessment alongside extensive engagement, design and mitigation.

Working alongside lead engineers Jacobs and a team of specialists, the project will see the removal of approximately 27 km of existing overhead lines, replaced with up to 18 km of overhead lines and around 11km of underground cables. This approach will enhance the landscape of the Dedham Vale National Landscape and the Stour Valley while supporting the construction of essential infrastructure, including access roads and cable-sealing end compounds.

The team conducted three rounds of extensive public consultation, prioritising local input to help to positively shape the proposals and ensure that the affected communities and surrounding ecology are protected throughout the project’s development.

The Inspectors' report was compelling in its recommendation and confident in the landscape assessment produced by Gillespies.

Pre-construction survey work is now underway, with wider construction activities set to commence in the first half of 2025.

The Bramford to Twinstead project is one of 17 critical infrastructure initiatives within the Great Grid Upgrade, a programme designed to both scale up the grid and modernise Britain’s energy networks. Gillespies’ landscape planning team in Manchester is working on several similar projects across the UK, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the UK's transition to cleaner energy.

As the UK embarks on a significant re-wiring of its infrastructure, landscape planners are vital in ensuring that these projects not only meet energy demands but also protect and enhance the ecological and social fabric of the communities they serve.