Sea Link

A proposal to build a 2GW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) undersea electricity link between Suffolk and Kent.

The project would involve the construction of a converter station in each county and the installation of offshore and onshore underground High-Voltage Direct Current cables (HVDC) between each converter station and underground High-Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) cables between the converter station and substation in both Suffolk and Kent. In Suffolk, the project is proposed to make landfall between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh. 

Suffolk County Council is a statutory consultee, and a decision would ultimately be taken by the relevant Secretary of State, if an application for development consent is submitted.

Further information can be found on the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and Applicant's (National Grid Electricity Transmission) websites. 

Current stage within the NSIP Process

The Planning Act 2008 sets out seven stages for NSIPs. The project has progressed through these as seen below.

  1. The Applicant produced a Screening, Scoping, Non-Statutory Consultation, Statement of Community Consultation, and Statutory Consultation.

    A Non-statutory Consultation was undertaken between 24 October and 18 December 2022.

    A Statutory Consultation from 24 October 2023 until 18 December 2023.

    Further, a Targeted Consultation place took between 8 July and 11 August 2024. 

    In addition, Pre-submission Engagement was held between 21 November 2024 and 12 January 2025. 

  2. The application for Development Consent was submitted on 27 March 2025. The Planning Inspectorate accepted the application for Examination on 23 April 2025.

    The Council was approached by the Planning Inspectorate in regard to the Adequacy of Consultation, prior to acceptance.

  3. Interested parties were encouraged to submit Relevant Representations regarding the proposed development between 24 April and 23 June 2025, however, the Planning Inspectorate opened a further period running from 18 July until 18 August 2025 for parties who had not been notified to submit relevant representations by the previous deadline.

Supporting Documents

Following the Statutory Consultation in December 2023, Suffolk County Council has written letters to National Grid, the Department for Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ), and the National Grid Energy System Operator (ESO) regarding the coordination of projects in Suffolk promoted by the subsidiaries of National Grid Group. 

The Council received a reply in September 2024 from DESNZ, concerning the Offshore Coordination Support Scheme (OCSS).

Contact National Grid

Find out more about the proposals on National Grid’s Sea Link project website.