Sea Link – National Grid Electricity Transmission
National Grid proposes to reinforce the electricity network between Suffolk and Kent via a new 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between a proposed substation near Friston in Suffolk and the existing Richborough to Canterbury 400kV overhead line in Kent. Sea Link is in the formal 6-month examination phase with the Planning Inspectorate. ESC officers continue to engage with the examination, reviewing submitted materials, preparing responses, and making submissions. Deadline 3 of the examination is 9 January and includes the submission of the Council’s Principal Areas of Disagreement Summary Statement (PADSS) and answers to the Examining Authority’s Written Questions 1. This will be followed by Deadline 3A on 19 January, for submission of written representations relating to Change Request 1. Further issue specific hearings and compulsory acquisition hearings are scheduled for w/c 26 January.
The examination will close on 5 May 2026. This will be followed by a 3-month period for the Planning Inspectorate’s Examining Authority to make a recommendation on the project, and a further 3-month period for the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to decide whether to grant development consent or not. If consented, as with all DCOs, there will be a 6 week window of time for any legal challenges to be lodged regarding the decision.
- Up to date Sea Link project information is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website Sea Link - Project information
- The Rule 8 letter which contains the revised examination timetable (Annex A) can be found here
LionLink Multi-Purpose Interconnector – National Grid Ventures
LionLink is a new subsea electricity cable (known as an interconnector) proposed to run between Great Britain and the Netherlands. The project is being developed by National Grid Ventures (NGV) and Dutch partner, TenneT. LionLink remains in the pre-application phase. Statutory consultation will open on 13 January, and close on 10 March (running for 8 weeks). Public information exhibitions will be held by National Grid Ventures, with details available at LionLink About | National Grid. This consultation allows statutory consultees to provide expert advice and concerns regarding the project to help shape the application before it is formally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, including the publication of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). The PEIR is a key document that provides an early, preliminary assessment of the likely significant environmental impacts of the proposed project, as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
The application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate later this year.
- The Planning Inspectorate’s project page can be found here.
- DCO submission to PINS expected in late 2026 LionLink About | National Grid Group
Sizewell C – SZC Co
Sizewell C reaches its second anniversary of commencement on 15 January 2026. Works continue to progress on the main construction site and the associated development sites this year. The two new roundabouts on the A12 at Yoxford and Friday Street were due to be operational by mid-2026. At Friday Street, varying traffic management is in place, including lane closures and traffic signals and will remain until summer 2026 as part of construction of the new roundabout.
Sizewell beach, adjacent the main construction area, will have temporary closures for the first three months of the year while temporary marine structures and an outfall pipe are built.
On the main construction area, a recent project milestone was the completion of the first stage of the Site of Special Scientific Interest crossing in late November 2025, known as the bailey bridge. The bridge joins the Main Construction Area with the Temporary Construction Area. The bailey bridge is the first of three crossings to be put in, and will be followed by a larger temporary bridge, and a smaller permanent operational bridge. The bailey bridge was completed ahead of schedule. Completion was programmed for March 2026.
Rail works continue. Work on the Green Rail Route has begun and SZC Co are carrying out surveys and enabling works, while Network Rail are delivering works to maintain the existing rail line. The project aims to deliver 60% of construction materials by rail or sea.
- Discharges for Sizewell C are ongoing. All discharges are on Public Access and can be found here: Requirement discharge information and applications » East Suffolk Council
- The Sizewell C Works Tracker provides the most current snapshot of ‘on the ground’ activity. Works can be followed on the Works Tracker: Home - Sizewell C Works Tracker (szcworkstracker.co.uk)
ScottishPower Renewables (SPR)
The East Anglia TWO and East Anglia ONE North offshore wind farm projects are progressing with the discharge of requirements attached to the DCO consents. In autumn-winter 2025, the team discharged the requirements associated with the onshore cable stage of works between landfall (located to the north of Thorpeness) and Snape Road to the east of Friston, and for works associated with the substation stage, requirement discharges will be ongoing into Q1 2026.
Enabling works at the substation site and along the onshore cable route are currently ongoing in preparation for the main works at these sites.
- More details on the projects can be found here.
Norwich to Tilbury
The Project proposes to reinforce the high voltage (400 kV) electricity transmission network between Norwich Main down to Tilbury in Essex. The Project will involve new overhead power lines (400kV) as well as new substation works at Norwich Main (Norfolk), Bramford (Suffolk), Lawford, Tendring (Essex) and Tilbury (Essex). The application is in the pre-examination phase with the Planning Inspectorate. ESC submitted a Relevant Representation in November 2025. This allows ESC to make submissions into Examination if we need to. We will maintain a watching brief and make submissions if needed. ESC are not a host authority for the proposed project, this is entirely out of district. However, while we defer to the host authorities, we have registered as an interested party to enable ESC to engage in the examination process if needed.
- More details can be found on the PINS website here.
Other Consultations
The Energy Projects Team continues to engage with central government on energy infrastructure planning, informed by its extensive experience of the Development Consent Order regime.
The Energy Projects team will respond to the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) Methodology Consultation, which seeks views on NESO’s proposed approach to implementing the RESP role. This consultation is a step towards producing the final RESP Methodology which will be published in Summer 2026, subject to Ofgem and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero approval.