NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

SECTION 48 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008 (AS AMENDED)
REGULATION 4, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009
NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER FOR THE SEA LINK PROJECT

Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (NGET) of National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA intends to apply to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) (the Act) to authorise the construction of the Sea Link Project.

The Sea Link Project (‘proposed Project’) involves the reinforcement of the electricity transmission network between Suffolk and Kent, predominantly via offshore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link. The proposed Project is split into three distinctive elements, as follows.

The Suffolk Onshore Scheme

• A connection from the existing transmission network via Friston Substation, including the substation itself. Friston Substation already has development consent as part of other third-party projects. If Friston Substation has already been constructed under another consent, only a connection into the substation would be constructed by the Sea Link project.
• A high voltage alternating current (HVAC) underground cable of approximately 1.7 km in length between the proposed Friston Substation and a proposed converter station (below).
• A 2 GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station up to 26 m high plus external equipment (such as lightning protection & railings for walkways) near Saxmundham.
• A HVDC underground cable connection of approximately 10 km in length between the proposed converter station near Saxmundham, and a transition joint bay (TJB) approximately 900 m inshore from a landfall point (below) where the cable transitions from onshore to offshore technology.
• A landfall on the Suffolk coast (between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness).

The proposals in Suffolk have been developed for Sea Link as a standalone project, but also include opportunities to co-locate infrastructure for up to two further projects at the converter station, cable corridors and the landfall location.

The Offshore Scheme

• Approximately 130 km of subsea HVDC cable, running between the Suffolk landfall location (between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness), and the Kent landfall location at Pegwell Bay.

  The Kent Onshore Scheme

• A landfall point on the Kent coast at Pegwell Bay.
• A TJB approximately 800 m inshore to transition from offshore HVDC cable to onshore HVDC cable, before continuing underground for approximately 2 km to a proposed new converter station (below).
• A 2 GW HVDC converter station, up to 26 m high plus external equipment (such as lightning protection & railings for walkways), near Minster. A new substation would be located immediately adjacent.
• Removal of approximately 1 km of existing HVAC overhead line, and installation of approximately 2.25 km of new HVAC overhead line from the converter station and substation near Minster and the existing Richborough to Canterbury overhead line.

The project also includes modifications to sections of existing overhead lines in Suffolk and Kent, diversions of third-party assets, and land drainage from the construction and operational footprint. It also includes opportunities for environmental mitigation, compensation and enhancement (such as hedgerow creation, native tree planting or funding local wildlife groups). The construction phase will involve various temporary construction activities including working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, storage, accesses, bellmouths, and haul roads, as well as watercourse crossings and the diversion of public rights of way (PROWs).

The proposed development will include other required works, for example, temporary access roads, highway works, temporary works compounds, work sites and ancillary works.

The proposed application will seek authorisation for the compulsory acquisition of land and interests in and rights over land, overriding easements and other rights, the temporary use of land, and other ancillary powers.

The proposed project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, as defined by The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. An Environmental Statement will therefore be submitted as part of the proposed application, which will contain information about the environmental effects of the proposed project.

All documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development, including the preliminary environmental information, will be available to download free of charge from 24 October 2023 until 18 December 2023 on www.nationalgrid.com/sealink (via the document library page).

Reference copies of certain documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development will also be available to view free of charge from 24 October 2023 at the following locations in the vicinity of the project for the duration of the consultation (until 18 December 2023).

Materials will be available to view during the opening hours listed above, except in circumstances outside of NGET’s control which prevent the locations specified from opening.

Requests for paper copies of the documents, plans and maps will be reviewed on a case by-case basis. To cover printing costs a reasonable copying charge may apply, to be paid for by the recipient and up-to a maximum value of £300 for the whole suite of consultation documents. These can be requested by contacting the Project Team via the details at the bottom of this notice.

How to respond to the consultation

The consultation is running between 24 October 2023 and 11:59pm on 18 December 2023.

Responses to the consultation can be submitted in the following ways:

• ·online via the Project’s website (nationalgrid.com/sealink)
• scanning a paper copy of the response form or submitting a free text letter or email
• by post at Freepost SEA LINK
• by email (contact@sealink.nationalgrid.com)

A printed copy of the consultation feedback form can be requested by contacting the project team on the details below.

National Grid must receive all responses by 11:59pm on 18 December (or 2 January for postal feedback) to ensure their consideration. Please note that responses are likely to be made public, but that contact/personal details will be redacted.

When deciding on the final form of the proposed application for a development consent order for the proposed project, National Grid will take into account any response to this publicity or the consultation that is received before the specified deadline.

National Grid may be required to make copies of representations available to the Secretary of State. However, National Grid will request that personal details are not placed on the public record.  Personal details will be held securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and will be used solely in connection with the consultation process and the development of this project and, except as noted above, will not be disclosed to any third parties.

If you have any questions about the project or the consultation, please get in touch:

Email: contact@sealink.nationalgrid.com      Telephone: 0808 134 9569