Suffolk campaigners had called for grid for wind farm power

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) looked at five options as part of the East Anglia Network study, including the offshore proposal backed by campaigners in Suffolk who are concerned about the impact of electricity infrastructure on the county's countryside.

The so-called offshore ring main would have connected all wind farms around the coast of the region and brought the electricity onshore at brownfield sites at Bradwell in Essex and in Kent.

READ MORE: National Grid will bring cables onshore at Southwold

But the study deemed that the option would not be technically feasible within the timescale in which the new electricity infrastructure needed to be delivered and decided not to progress the idea to the next stage of the process.

The study was looking at ways to connect offshore wind farms to the electricity grid.

Fiona Gilmore, from action group Suffolk Energy Action Solutions (SEAS), said it was 'frustrating' that offshore solutions were not being pursued.

SEAS is championing a grid as an alternative to bringing cables onshore in Suffolk, which will involve the creation of a substation at Friston and converter station at Saxmundham.

READ MORE: East Suffolk Council calls for 'offshore solutions'

She said the cost analysis carried out as part of the study only considered transmission costs, but did not factor in infrastructure, such as the cost of substations and cable trenches, as well as the impact on businesses and livelihoods.

However, the study did propose taking forward another, predominantly offshore option, which would have linked with Bradwell and would reduce the need for controversial 50 metre high pylons to line a 110 mile route along the Suffolk and Essex border.

Campaigners, including the Essex Suffolk Norfolk pylons action group, are concerned about the impact of the pylons on the rural environment, which they have described as 'monstrosities'.

Suffolk County Council's deputy leader Richard Rout welcomed the study (Image: Suffolk County Council)READ MORE: Suffolk news

The potential progress of this option was welcomed by Richard Rout, the county council's deputy leader and cabinet member for environment and finance.

He said: “Greater clarity around what might be possible to remove, or markedly reduce, the impact of pylons in Suffolk is very welcome.

"It is now critical that National Grid take these findings into consideration as they continue planning their Great Grid Upgrade, which includes the Norwich to Tilbury project - a project around which we have huge concerns."