'I'm angry': North Shropshire MP launches campaign to stop 'massive' substation being built near Oswestry

The MP for North Shropshire has launched a petition against proposed plans to build a “massive” substation near Oswestry.

The Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan is pushing back against the National Grid’s plans to build an energy hub at Lower Frankton, between Oswestry and Ellesmere, to handle a potentially huge influx of green energy from Wales.

She is urging residents to sign her new petition in a community effort to stop the potential development.

The proposed hub could cover tens of acres of land in the north Shropshire area, it is understood, and Mrs Morgan said she is concerned that local residents have not been told the full scale of what could be built.

The development comes after the energy infrastructure company Green GEN Cymru - part of Bute Energy Group - is seeking planning permission to construct 50km of pylons running from Mid-Wales to Lower Frankton carrying energy created by wind farms in Wales.

The pylon plans, part of the Vyrnwy-Frankton project, are designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), and so do not go through the regular local planning system.

Instead, plans go through a different planning process that is in the end decided directly from Westminster by the Secretary of State responsible.

However, Mrs Morgan said that Green GEN Cymru proposed these plans before the National Grid had the infrastructure in place to accommodate such an energy development.

To accommodate the plans, the National Grid's preferred option for an energy hub capable of handling the new energy supply from the Green GEN Cymru pylons is to build a 24-bay 400kV substation at Lower Frankton.

This will be next to the Green GEN Cymru switching station, which is near Lower Frankton, Mrs Morgan said.

The National Grid plans have not been officially lodged and they are still subject to planning permission. The plans are set to be submitted by the National Grid in 2027.

Talking about the proposals, Mrs Morgan said: “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.”

The Lib Dem MP went on to say: “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.”

On Tuesday (October 13), Mrs Morgan brought up the proposed plans for the new substation in the House of Commons with Michael Shanks MP, Minister of State for Energy.

Mrs Morgan asked the minister to meet her to discuss the plans, and stated that she believed there was a better location for such a development.

Mr Shanks agreed to meet with Mrs Morgan to discuss the issue.

Mrs Morgan’s petition comes because of her great anger with the proposals at Lower Frankton.

She said: “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.”

Mrs Morgan has previously been critical of Green GEN Cymru.

She called on the regulator Ofgem to consider revoking the energy infrastructure company’s licence.

This is after complaints from residents and landowners and a High Court judgment which raised concerns about the conduct of the company.

A Green GEN Cymru spokesperson said: “The judicial review provided important legal clarification on the use of statutory survey powers. The Court did not quash any notices, confirmed our status as an acquiring authority and rejected a number of the wider claims brought against the company.

“The judgment also recognised improvements made to our policies and procedures, including how we engage with landowners and manage survey access. We have taken the Court's findings seriously and will continue to ensure that our activities are undertaken responsibly, lawfully and with appropriate consideration for landowners and local communities.”

On the substation plans in general, the spokesperson said: “Green GEN Cymru is responsible for developing its proposed 132kV electricity connection, while National Grid is responsible for its own transmission infrastructure proposals, including location. We recognise the importance of ensuring that communities understand the relationship between these developments and their potential impacts.

“We have undertaken several rounds of consultation on Vyrnwy Frankton, including a further targeted statutory consultation earlier this year. Feedback from residents, landowners and other stakeholders has helped inform the development of our proposals, and continues to be considered alongside detailed environmental and technical assessments.

“The project will be subject to the Development Consent Order process, which provides opportunities for representations, independent examination and consideration of the project's impacts before any decision is taken by the Secretary of State. No consent has been granted, and the outcome is not predetermined.”

The spokesperson concluded that Green GEN Cymru is “committed” to engaging with key figures locally, such as local politicians and stakeholders.

The National Grid spokesperson said: “Plans for a new substation in the Lower Frankton area are being developed to meet rising demand for electricity in the region. We need to upgrade the grid now to meet this increase in demand.

“We will consult with the local community in early 2027 on our draft proposals. This will provide residents with the opportunity to find out more about the project and share their feedback to help develop our proposals further.”