The interests of local communities and the environment will be "taken into account" when considering plans to build 110 miles of 50-metre high pylons across Suffolk and Essex countryside, a Government department has pledged.

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was responding to concerns raised by campaigners who slammed energy and climate minister Graham Stuart for refusing to review the plans.

A spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to support communities, businesses and the countryside while at the same time ensuring energy security for the whole country, tackling climate change and generating more cheap, clean power in the UK.

“All energy infrastructure projects are subject to strict planning controls to ensure that the interests of local communities and the impact on the local environment are taken into account.

"This includes the requirement to conduct environmental impact assessments and public engagement on planning applications.”

Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons accused the Government of "completely failing consumers, the environment and future generations" after energy and climate minister Graham Stuart said a review of the pylon contracts "was not the best approach".

The structures are set to support power lines carrying electricity from wind farms off the East Anglia coast and will line a route running through Suffolk and into Essex past Dedham, Langham and crossing the A12 to connect into the East Anglian Connection substation in Tendring.

But campaigner Rosie Pearson said the Government seemed "determined to compromise substantial areas of the UK with the pylon monstrosities".

She added: "Tens of thousands of people across East Anglia are sick of hearing nothing can be done. It is not too late. This government is barely paying lip service to the need for an offshore strategy in the North Sea."

She said state policy on the transmission of power generated offshore was an "abject failure" and coastlines and the countryside would become unrecognisable as land was given to substations and converter stations, some measuring 30m high.

"On the contrary, the impact is all negative. The new transmission infrastructure is primarily required to transport electricity from offshore wind farms off the east coast and from new nuclear builds on the coast to London,” she added.