Former home secretary Priti Patel has challenged the government over plans to build a 112-mile pylon route across East Anglia. 

Ms Patel, who represents Witham in Essex, said there was a “deep anger… across the east of England” about the proposal from National Grid.

The project, known as 'East Anglia GREEN', would see a line of 50m-high pylons run from Dunston, just south of Norwich, down to Tilbury on the Thames estuary. 

Eastern Daily Press: Priti Patel MP, who served as home secretary under prime minister Boris Johnson from July 2019 until September 2022Priti Patel MP, who served as home secretary under prime minister Boris Johnson from July 2019 until September 2022 (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

National Grid says the scheme is needed to transport the increasing amounts of energy being generated by wind turbines off the Norfolk coast, and that it will help the UK reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

But politicians from across the region, including South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, have objected to the plan, saying that the cable route should go offshore. 

They have now been joined by Ms Patel, who raised the issue in parliament on Tuesday, January 17. 

Eastern Daily Press: The pylons proposed as part of the 'East Anglia GREEN' project will run for 180km, and be around 50m highThe pylons proposed as part of the 'East Anglia GREEN' project will run for 180km, and be around 50m high (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

She told energy minister Graham Stuart he was “more than aware of the deep anger in my constituency, and across the East of England” about the project. 

She asked: “Will the minister give clear assurances that the government will work proactively to explore offshore grid options?

“An alternative, basically, that will deliver more resilience, capacity and also protect our countryside.”

Mr Stuart noted that Ms Patel and her colleagues had “been assiduous in championing her constituents’ interest and [in] making sure no infrastructure which imposes a burden on her constituents goes in which isn’t necessary”.

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Stuart MP, minister of state for energy and climateGraham Stuart MP, minister of state for energy and climate (Image: Westminster)

He added: “I’m pleased to say that we have launched the £100m Offshore Coordination Support Scheme, which provides funding to ensure a more coordinated approach, while recognising that there are some contracts which we cannot forcibly change, but we can - including with that funding - help encourage developers to look at doing their infrastructure in the way that has the least negative impact on her constituents.”

A National Grid spokeswoman clarified that the East Anglia GREEN scheme would not be eligible for the fund, because it is currently proposed as an onshore rather than offshore project.