 to receive a direct payment, paid either as a lump sum or on a regular (e.g. annual) basis for a period of time. 'Wider community benefits would provide finance for local projects or investment to enhance the economy, society and/or environment in a local area.' But in a consultation document, civil servants said it would not be 'feasible' to compensate residents by giving them money off their energy bills. Tory MPs oppose plans A spokesman for the energy department said: 'We want to ensure communities hosting transmission network infrastructure can benefit from supporting the delivery of cheaper, secure and low-carbon energy for all of Great Britain, and have consulted on proposals to make that happen. 'As part of our new reforms, we will ensure we have the grid infrastructure we need to bring power to households and businesses, as part of our pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach to achieving net zero. 'We are considering responses to our consultation and will be responding in due course.' It comes after 13 Tory MPs from across East Anglia and Essex wrote to Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, to oppose plans for a new string of pylons. The parliamentarians represent constituencies which would be affected by new power lines from Norwich to Tilbury to link offshore wind farms to the grid. In the MPs' letter, they pushed the Government to support plans for the cables to be rerouted offshore so that they do not spoil 'our beautiful countryside'. The signatories included Therese Coffey, the Environment Secretary, Kemi Ba){kind=link}
Energy companies could be required to pay for new amenities like village halls so people benefit from their area helping to expand the grid
People who live close to new pylons are set to be handed cash payments under proposals being drawn up to rapidly expand the electricity grid.
Rishi Sunak pledged this week to “speed up planning” decisions for major energy projects as part of a drive to boost capacity and reach net zero.
Building infrastructure like overhead cables which is needed to connect new power plants and wind farms to the grid is a major source of delays.
Proposals have now been fleshed out by Whitehall which would see local residents handed a lump sum or annual payment if pylons are built near them.