National Grid makes formal Sea Link, which would land between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, application to Planning Inspectorate

National Grid has made a formal application to develop a major energy pathway connecting Suffolk and Kent.

The company has submitted its development consent proposals to the Planning Inspectorate for Sea Link, which it said would boost energy security and create additional capacity in both regions.

As demand for energy is set to double, National Grid’s ‘The Great Grid Upgrade’ – of which Sea Link is a part – will enhance electricity capacity across the network while also boosting the amount of renewable energy use.

The proposed energy connection would be 138km long and would run from Pegwell Bay, in Kent, to a point on the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.

The project will run predominantly offshore; about 122km of the cables will be undersea, then linking to converter stations so electricity can be transported to where it is needed in East Anglia, Kent and the rest of the country.

Adrian Pierssene, project director, said: “We have listened to and considered all the feedback we have received, shaping the plans we are submitting as a result.

“Sea Link is a vital investment in Great Britain’s energy future, creating the extra capacity needed to integrate renewable power into the grid, boosting energy security and supporting a cleaner electricity network.”

National Grid held several rounds of public consultation between 2022 and 2025.

The feedback from communities and stakeholders in Suffolk and Kent during these shaped the plans.

The application will now be considered through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) framework, led by the Planning Inspectorate.

The public will be able to add further comments during the examination stage.