Warning as Ed Miliband's 'ideological' net zero plan 'will cause house prices to plummet'

Ed Miliband’s plan to build thousands of pylons will cause “untold misery” by wiping tens of thousands from the values of peoples’ homes, campaigners have warned.

The Net Zero Secretary has vowed to "take on the blockers, the delayers, and the obstructionists" to build clean energy infrastructure.

But many communities fear the Labour government is plotting to destroy vast swathes of the countryside by building thousands of pylons.

And critics warned that tourism businesses “will be ruined and homeowners will see up to 40% wiped off the value of their property, causing untold misery.”

A spokesperson for The Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons Group declared: “What evidence is there that pylons you say we need are the best way? The answer is: none.

“You talk about injustice and communities left behind. Yet injustice is the result with the unnecessary pylons you want to foist on rural communities across the UK.

“Farmers will struggle, tourist businesses will be ruined, and home-owners will see up to 40% wiped off the value of their property, causing untold misery.”

Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho added: “Ed Miliband's rush to net zero for the sake of ideology will leave us in the worst of all worlds - with higher bills, jobs sent abroad, and ever more reliance on China.

“He must set out a full systems costs immediately, so that British billpayers know how much all of this will cost them."

Mr Miliband said that "the faster we go, the more secure we become" on developing clean energy generation.

"Every wind turbine we put up, every solar panel we install, every piece of grid we construct helps protect families from future energy shocks," he said.

While he struck a defiant tone towards people opposing clean power projects in local areas, he said it is important people living near new infrastructure benefit from it.

Mr Miliband added: "If you host this clean energy infrastructure, there should be a benefit to your community from doing so.

"I think that's a fair deal to make with people. But this Government is willing to go out and make the case... because this has got to happen."

Rosie Pearson, founder of the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons Group, said “Rhetoric like this from a Secretary of State and public figure is extraordinary and divisive.

“Instead of name-calling, Mr Miliband would be wise to take an evidence-based approach.

“He would find, if he took the time to meet some of us he denigrates as blockers, obstructionists and nimbys, that we have a rather greater understanding of how to achieve a really great grid upgrade than he does.”

And Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick added: “We must also bring down sky-high energy costs and make it our objective to deliver cheap and reliable energy.

“Between the cost of connecting to distributed renewable generators, and the subsidies offered for their production, our attempts to decarbonise our national grid have resulted in British industry paying some of Europe’s highest electricity costs in Europe.

“Labour’s rush to complete decarbonisation by 2030 will only send bills spiralling higher. We should not be decarbonising faster than our major competitors.”

Speaking at trade body Energy UK's annual conference in London, Mr Miliband said the renewable energy transition is the "economic justice, energy security and national security fight of our time".

He said switching to clean energy is not just about climate change, but that "dependence on fossil fuels leaves us deeply vulnerable as a country, and the Government's view is that we simply can't go on like this".

It comes weeks before energy bills are due to get more expensive again this winter, partly as a result of rising gas prices.

Regulator Ofgem said the average household bill is set to increase by £149 from October after it increased the quarterly price cap for the winter months.

The Government has faced criticism for recent cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Under plans announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning around 10 million people will lose out this winter. About 11.5 million people used to receive the benefit.

Mr Miliband did not address the controversy, but said that as long as the UK is "stuck on the rollercoaster of volatile international markets" the country "simply won't have control of our energy bills".

"Cheap, clean" renewable energy, meanwhile, will help "offer us price stability", he added.