Objection to Grimsby to Walpole

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[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [Postcode] [Email Address] [Date] 

To whom it may concern, 

Subject: Objection to the National Grid Grimsby to Walpole Transmission Project 

I am writing to object to the above proposal under the Great Grid Upgrade. While I support the transition to a decarbonised energy system, I believe this specific route and infrastructure design poses unacceptable and unjustified harm to Lincolnshire’s landscape, economy, and rural communities. 

1. Route-Specific Landscape and Amenity Harm 

The proposed overhead lines would introduce 45–50 metre-high pylons across some of the most open and tranquil countryside in Lincolnshire, cutting through areas of low visual capacity and within view of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This directly conflicts with National Policy Statement (NPS) EN-1 (Sections 5.9–5.10) and EN-5 (Section 2.8.9), which require that: 

• Developers minimise visual impacts 
• Undergrounding must be considered where appropriate 
• Protected or sensitive landscapes must be given special regard 

The lack of detailed justification for not routing this project alongside other infrastructure (e.g. Eastern Green Links) or placing sections underground is deeply concerning. 

2. Cumulative Impacts of Simultaneous NSIPs 

Lincolnshire is already hosting a significant cluster of large-scale energy projects, including: 

• Eastern Green Links 2–5 
• Offshore wind cable corridors and converter stations 
• Battery energy storage systems, solar farms, synchronous condensers 
• 
  

These developments are being built concurrently, resulting in layered and compounded disruption. This violates EN-1 (Section 4.2.5), which requires cumulative impacts to be assessed and mitigated across infrastructure types. 

3. Agricultural and Economic Harm 

This project would carve across some of the UK’s finest Grade 1 and 2 agricultural land, causing: 

• Loss of productive farmland 
• Disruption of drainage and machinery access 
• Diminished viability of farm operations 
• Cumulative impact of multiple energy proposals on farmland and food production 

This disregards Government priorities on food security and the economic sustainability of rural landscapes. It also conflicts with HM Treasury’s Green Book, which demands full appraisal of wider social and economic costs. 

Local businesses also face a downturn. Tourism in the Lincolnshire Wolds and coastal areas depends on open landscapes, scenic views, tranquillity, and family-oriented leisure — all of which are at risk. 

Tourism and Food production make up 21% of Lincolnshire’s GDP, projects such as this and the associated Energy infrastructure do not contribute towards local authority business rates so would further compound the negative impact on Lincolnshire’s economy. 

4. Transport Pressure and Social Impact 

The influx of construction vehicles from this and additional infrastructure construction within the same timeframe, across narrow rural roads will increase: 

• Congestion, road degradation, and safety risks 
• Strain on emergency services and public transport 

Plans to accommodate a large temporary workforce in family-oriented holiday parks on the coast have raised alarm in communities. Concerns include: 

• Disruption to tourism accommodation and income 
• Pressure on local amenities and services 
• Safety and wellbeing of local residents and visitors 
• Community unease about long-term social impacts 

There appears to be no coherent housing or workforce management strategy disclosed, instead National Grid claim minimal impact. 

5. Procedural Concerns — Green Book & Gunning Principles 

The project appears non-compliant with: 

• The Green Book: which requires full options appraisal (including undergrounding), value for money, and mitigation of non-monetary harms 
• The Gunning Principles, which require that: 
• Consultations begin before decisions are finalised 
• The public receives sufficient and accurate information 
• Adequate time is provided to respond meaningfully 
• Feedback is conscientiously considered 

The lack of a transparent alternatives analysis, vague documentation, and limited responsiveness to local concerns strongly suggests procedural shortcomings. 

Consultations have been fraught with errors; at this stage 2 official consultation there was a delay of several days before all documentation was accessible. An incorrect email address on the ‘Have Your Say’ portion of the website caused confusion and the fly through videos representing the proposed view of the pylon run is wholly unrealistic in its depiction of transparent cable-less pylons as seen from the air. 

Stage 2 consultation also refers to ongoing surveys, which highlights the need to extend consultations to allow for all evidence to presented to the public in order to make informed decisions. 

6. Specific Local Impact (To be completed by the respondent) 

Please use this section to add personalised detail. For example: 

> “In my community of [Town/Village], the pylon route would pass within [distance] of homes, conservation sites, or historic buildings. > Our local tourism business relies on unspoiled views, which would be permanently impacted. > Farm operations here would be constrained by loss of access routes and disruption to drainage channels.” 

In summary, I urge that this scheme be reconsidered. Lincolnshire already carries a significant burden in enabling the national energy transition — but progress must not come at the expense of our landscapes, farms, and communities. 

Yours sincerely, [Your Full Name]