East Suffolk Council
Sea Link
Sea Link is a new proposed high voltage undersea electricity link between Suffolk and Kent being developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission.
National Grid has stated that the Sea Link project is required to add greater capacity to the electricity transmission network, allowing anticipated renewable energy, generated offshore, to connect to the network and be transported around the country.
 Source - National Grid Electricity Transmission |
In December 2021 National Grid commenced preliminary onshore surveys, the data from which will help inform their proposals for the project. National Grid currently propose to hold a public consultation on Sea Link in Q4 2022.
The Secretary of State has exercised powers under section 35 of the Planning Act 2008 to direct that the Sealink project be treated as development for which development consent is required and the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime is applicable. The developer will as a result be required to apply for development consent where the final decision whether to give permission will be made by the relevant Secretary of State through the granting of a Development Consent Order.
- Direction by Secretary of State under section 35 of the Planning Act 2008 relating to Sea Link
- Secretary of State’s decision letter
East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council wrote jointly to National Grid PLC to seek coordination of the Sea Link project with the other potentially forthcoming projects.
Consultations
Scoping Report – October to November 2022
- The Planning Inspectorate consulted on the Scoping Report submitted by National Grid for the Sea Link project providing stakeholders 28 days for comments.
- East Suffolk Council’s response to the Scoping Report consultation
Non-statutory consultation – October to December 2022
- National Grid’s non-statutory consultation on the Sea Link project ran between 24 October and 18 December 2022.
- East Suffolk Council’s response to the initial consultation on the Sea Link project
More information about Sea Link from the National Grid website