Helen launches campaign against plans for ‘massive’ Shropshire power hub

Helen Morgan MP has launched a campaign against plans for one of the largest pieces of energy infrastructure ever proposed for the north of the county.

Helen is urging people to sign a petition against a “massive” electricity hub, warning that residents have not been told the full scale of what could be built between Ellesmere and Oswestry.

The move comes as information published by National Grid suggests that a proposed 400kV substation near Lower Frankton is being developed not only as a connection point for Welsh wind farms, but to act as a wider ‘hub’, capable of accommodating future energy connections.

Alongside launching a public petition, Helen is working with parish councils, community groups and residents across the affected area to coordinate opposition to the plans, set to be submitted in the coming months.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said: “Residents and landowners were initially told about plans for pylons and a switching station to accommodate electricity generated by wind farms in Wales.

“What is now emerging suggests that Lower Frankton is being developed as a massive strategic energy hub, rather than simply a connection point for a single project.

“People are only just beginning to understand the true scale of what could be proposed for beautiful and productive farmland in the county.”

During questions to the Energy Secretary in the House of Commons this week (Tuesday, 13th October), Helen highlighted concerns over plans for the substation and questioned whether they were appropriate for a rural area with limited road infrastructure and valuable agricultural land. She urged ministers to consider alternative locations and secured a commitment from the Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP to meet to discuss the issue.

Green GEN Cymru, part of Bute Energy, is seeking planning consent for around 50km of pylons running from Mid Wales to Lower Frankton as part of the Vyrnwy-Frankton project, which would terminate at a new switching station.

These would then have to connect into the National Grid, but there is currently no capacity to do that.

Helen has previously challenged ministers over Green Gen’s scheme, questioning how residents could be assured that the planning process was not predetermined when the associated National Grid infrastructure had yet to be developed.

Now, according to documents on the National Grid website, its preferred option is to build a 24-bay 400kV substation, which the company describes as a ‘wider regional strategic node’ intended to accommodate future network requirements and additional connections beyond the original proposal.

Built immediately adjacent to the switching station, the substation compound would tap into the existing 400kV Wrexham to Shrewsbury overhead line, to step up the Welsh wind energy. Similar sites in other parts of the country extend to tens of acres of land to accommodate the huge supergrid transformers and associated industrial equipment and access.

Helen added: “We all recognise the importance of energy security and transitioning to clean energy, but supporting renewables does not mean we have to accept poor planning.

“If these proposals are approved, they will alter this landscape forever and we will never get that back.

“Lower Frankton is not the right location for such a significant concentration of energy infrastructure. This is open countryside, served by rural roads and surrounded by productive farmland.

“If infrastructure of this scale is genuinely needed, then alternative locations and underground cabling must be properly considered.”

For more than two years Helen has repeatedly raised concerns about the Green Gen project, including chairing a packed public meeting in April 2024, attended by more than 150 residents.

Earlier this year, Helen criticised what she described as inadequate consultation after residents reported they had not been properly informed about revised plans affecting pylon locations and the proposed Lower Frankton switching station.

She also called on energy regulator Ofgem to consider revoking Green GEN Cymru’s operating licence in August following complaints from residents and landowners and a High Court judgment which raised concerns about the company’s conduct.

At the time, Helen said she was “deeply concerned” and that the High Court judgment raised “serious questions” about the way Green GEN Cymru conducted itself when dealing with landowners and rural communities.

Helen added: “I’m angry that we have not been given the full picture and the more information that emerges, the clearer it becomes that residents are now facing something significantly larger than first envisaged.

“Our countryside shouldn’t be seen as a convenient point on a map. It’s home to farming families, local businesses and thriving rural communities and I’ll be working alongside parish councils, community organisations and residents to make sure North Shropshire is listened to.”

Residents can support the campaign by signing Helen Morgan’s petition opposing the Lower Frankton substation proposals and joining local campaign efforts in affected communities.