National Grid has submitted its application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate for Sea Link, a new electricity connection between Kent and Suffolk. This vital project will boost energy security and help deliver cleaner energy and strengthen Great Britain’s energy network.

As part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the Sea Link project is designed to increase electricity capacity, as demand for energy is set to double, ensuring more renewable and low-carbon power reaches homes, business and public services.

The proposed 138km connection, from Pegwell Bay in Kent to a point on the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, will run mostly offshore. Around 122 km of the cables will be located under the sea with underground cables 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 for Sea Link 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."

Following multiple rounds of public consultation between 2022 and 2025, National Grid has developed plans for the project, considering valuable feedback from communities and stakeholders in Suffolk and Kent. The application will now be considered through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) planning process led by the Planning Inspectorate. The public will have further opportunities to provide input during the examination stage.