Approval pushes Sea Link project ahead
National Grid’s Sea Link application has been accepted by the Planning Inspectorate.
Image for illustration purposes
UK: The Planning Inspectorate has accepted National Grid’s development consent application for the Sea Link project which is an important step toward enhancing Great Britain’s electricity network.
Sea Link is a proposed 138 km electricity connection, mostly offshore, linking Pegwell Bay in Kent with the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness. The plan includes 122 km of undersea cables and 14 km of underground cables that will connect to new converter stations at both ends.
Designed to support the growing demand for energy, Sea Link will efficiently deliver low-carbon and renewable electricity to homes and businesses across the region. The project forms a key part of The Great Grid Upgrade, National Grid’s largest overhaul of the UK’s electricity system in decades.
With the application accepted, Sea Link enters the pre-examination phase. Soon, members of the public and stakeholders can register as Interested Parties on the Planning Inspectorate website, allowing them to participate in public hearings during the formal examination.
Following a Preliminary Meeting, the Inspectorate will begin its detailed review. Once concluded, a recommendation will be made to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will make the final decision.
Adrian Pierssene, Sea Link Project Director, called the acceptance “a significant step,” emphasising the project’s role in strengthening energy security and supporting a cleaner, more resilient electricity network.
Source: National Grid
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