Campaigners have accused National Grid of potentially wrecking protected land in its flagship scheme designed to harness renewable energy.

Kent Wildlife Trust has taken aim at the energy giant’s proposals to build a converter station the size of 22 football pitches on Minster Marshes, alongside underground cables to Pegwell Bay.

National Grid is considering whether it can fast-track two controversial power cable projects to help the government meet its pledge to create a clean electricity system by 2030.

The FTSE 100 energy company is reviewing plans to build a 114-mile (184km) power line from Tilbury in Essex to Norwich, which is expected to begin construction in 2027 and carry electricity from offshore windfarms by 2031.

It is also considering speeding up plans for the Sea Link project, 90 miles (145kms) of undersea cable that would come ashore at two points – near Sandwich in Kent and between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

National Grid is hoping to receive government approval for the projects by 2026, despite strong local opposition from campaigners who fear the 50 metre-high (164ft) pylons on the Norwich-Tilbury line would “destroy historic landscapes” and require a “huge loss of trees”. Green groups have also raised concerns that the Sea Link project would damage coastal ecosystems.

A public consultation into plans to lay 90 miles (145km) of cable under the sea between Kent and Suffolk ends on Sunday.

The Sea Link project would carry windfarm and nuclear-generated electricity from the Aldeburgh/Thorpeness area to the Sandwich and Ramsgate areas.

The National Grid has said the cable is needed to meet the government's 2030 clean power target.

Some environmental groups have campaigned against it, saying it will harm local biodiversity.

Emma Waller, the Kent Wildlife Trust's planning and policy officer, said: "This cable will come on shore at Pegwell Bay which is an internationally important site for wildlife, especially migratory and overwintering birds.

"It's also home to Kent's largest seal population."

The Campaign to Protect Rural England said Sea Link would be "a disaster", with Kent MPs Sir Roger Gale and Polly Billington also raising concerns.

Controversial plans to boost the size of a massive electrical station on the cusp of protected land have been branded “environmental vandalism”.

Conservationists want the public to air their views on plans to install an electricity cable linking Kent to Suffolk.

National Grid's Sea Link project aims to lay 90 miles (145km) of undersea cable that would come ashore near Sandwich in Kent and between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

National Grid has updated its plans for its Sea Link project and proposes an increase in height of a 90,000 square metre  onshore converter station at Minster marshes in the Stour Valley.

Conservationists want the public to air their views on plans to install an electricity cable linking Kent to Suffolk.

National Grid's Sea Link, external project aims to lay 90 miles (145km) of undersea cable that would come ashore near Sandwich in Kent and between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

After a consultation ended in December 2023, amendments were made and people now have until 11 August to share their views.

But Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) remains concerned over how the route will impact the wildlife at the bay and Minster Marshes.

In December the trust launched the 'Rethink Sea Link' campaign urging the National Grid to look at other routes for the cable.

The Sea Link project has been described by the Campaign to Protect Rural England as "a disaster".

“The humpbacks’ appearance off the Kent coast is also raising fears about the impact of new subsea electricity cables for new offshore windfarms on marine mammals.

Emma Waller, planning and policy officer for Kent Wildlife Trust, said that National Grid’s Sea Link project, which plans to install an underwater cable between Kent and Suffolk, had not undertaken enough research on its impact on whales, seals and other marine mammals and its landfall at Pegwell Bay could disrupt marine ecosystems.

“The sightings underline the need for these large offshore projects like Sea Link to fully consider their impacts on marine mammals,” said Waller. “Their current approach lacks adequate mitigation for marine mammals. Renewable energy is vital, but it must not come at the expense of wildlife when alternative options are available.

“There needs to be a review of the standards of ecological surveys for such projects – we need to understand what these impacts and implications are going to be.””

Kent Wildlife Trust has launched a campaign calling on National Grid to "Rethink Sea Link"

The trust's planning and policy officer, Emma Waller, said the route would cause disturbance to wildlife at the National Nature Reserve Pegwell Bay and surrounding nature sites.

"We are hugely disappointed to see that nature is yet again not valued," she said.

"We support steps taken to develop renewable energy solutions, but it must not be at the cost of wildlife."

She called on National Grid to "choose the least damaging route".

‘Limited’ consultation taking place over revised National Grid Sea Link converter station plans for Minster marshes.

Campaigners fear a precious Kent wildlife habitat untouched for centuries will be destroyed if plans for a massive electricity converter station covering the size of at least seven football pitches are approved.

The controversial scheme, which North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale has branded “cheapskate and unnecessary”, is being proposed by National Grid on the Minster marshes.

National Grid updates 138km Kent-Suffolk HVDC link plans and runs additional consultation.

East Thanet MP Polly Billington says National Grid needs to rethink the controversial Sea Link project which includes a 90,000 square metre  onshore converter station at Minster marshes in the Stour Valley.