National Grid has unveiled revised proposals for a new line of electricity pylons stretching across Lincolnshire, aiming to soften their impact on the local landscape.

The updated Grimsby to Walpole route will still span 87 miles (140 km), but now includes a 7 km section of lower-height pylons through the Lincolnshire Wolds, where the structures will be reduced from 50 metres to 40 metres tall. This change follows public pushback over visual and environmental concerns linked to the original plans.

Adjustments have also been made to avoid wind turbines, a solar farm, Boston Aerodrome, Strubby Airfield, and a nearby holiday park catering to individuals with special educational needs. Efforts have been made to keep the route away from residential areas.

The proposal is part of The Great Grid Upgrade, a wider plan to boost the UK’s electricity network. National Grid says the improvements are necessary to support increasing energy generation and meet growing demand for cleaner power.

In addition to the Grimsby–Walpole line, a second Lincolnshire project is being planned between Weston Marsh and East Leicestershire. That route will now feature two substations and use 50-metre pylons across 60km.

Public consultations on both routes run until 6 August.

A new group-buying scheme is making it easier and more affordable for North East Lincolnshire households to invest in solar energy. The Solar Together initiative allows residents to register for free and access competitively priced solar panel installations, battery storage systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge points.

The programme, run in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council and energy transition experts iChoosr, brings together homeowners to benefit from bulk pricing. By joining the scheme, participants can reduce their reliance on the national grid and take greater control of their energy use.

The process begins with residents registering their interest online. Approved UK solar providers then bid in a reverse auction to offer the most competitive rates. Each participant receives a personalized recommendation tailored to their property and needs. If they choose to proceed, a technical survey is carried out before installation.

Those with existing solar panels can also opt for retrofit battery storage to maximise the benefits of their current system. Help desks and information sessions support residents throughout, aiming to simplify the move to cleaner energy.

Solar Together has been running across the UK since 2015, helping to cut carbon emissions and household energy bills through community-led solar adoption.

The UK Government is proposing to extend a ban on bottom trawling across a broader stretch of English waters, potentially tripling the area currently protected from the destructive fishing practice.

Bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy nets across the seabed, has long been criticised for damaging fragile marine habitats and indiscriminately catching marine life. The expansion would increase the ban from 18,000km² to 48,000km² across designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The proposal is now open for a 12-week consultation with the fishing and marine sectors, closing in early September.

If implemented, the plan would protect 41 of England’s 181 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), aiming to safeguard sensitive seabed ecosystems and rare marine species. The move follows recent warnings from environmental groups and members of Parliament, who have called for stronger safeguards against seabed exploitation, including dredging and mineral extraction.

The announcement coincides with the start of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where world leaders are being urged to ratify the High Seas Treaty. The treaty, which aims to protect 30% of international waters by 2030, has been ratified by 47 countries so far. The UK has yet to sign.

At the summit, concerns were also raised about deep-sea mining. France and Costa Rica have called for a global moratorium, urging caution until more is known about the environmental risks of harvesting critical minerals from the ocean floor. A growing consensus is emerging among scientists regarding the need to pause exploration efforts while further research is conducted.

The expanded trawling ban, if enacted, would represent a major step in the UK’s marine conservation efforts and align with broader global moves to preserve ocean biodiversity.