National Grid has unveiled early-stage plans for a major infrastructure upgrade to expand electricity transmission capacity between Weston Marsh in Lincolnshire and East Leicestershire. The initiative is part of The Great Grid Upgrade, a national programme designed to modernise the UK’s energy infrastructure and support the country’s transition to low-carbon power.
The proposals include approximately 60 km of new high-voltage overhead lines and the construction of two new substations, one near Corby Glen and another near Wartnaby. Additionally, approximately 55 km of existing overhead lines from East Leicestershire to Grendon in Northamptonshire would be upgraded.
This expansion is intended to meet a forecasted doubling of electricity demand by 2050, allowing more home-grown energy generated along the East Coast to be distributed throughout the Midlands and southern regions. National Grid says this will help reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports and protect consumers from volatile global energy markets.
An eight-week public consultation opened on 11 June and runs until 6 August. Feedback is being sought on the proposed route, substation sites, and community benefits. A mix of in-person events, webinars, and local information points across Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire is available to support stakeholder engagement.
