October 2025 update
We are consulting on our early proposals for the Cross Border Connection project. The consultation opened at 12pm Wednesday 15 October and will close at 11:59pm Wednesday 10 December 2025.
You can find out more about our proposals on this website. You can view the Interactive map and read the consultation documents in the Document library.
We are also holding a series of in-person public information events and online webinars where you can hear more about our plans from members of our team. You can find details on our Have your say page.
The deadline for providing feedback is 11:59pm Wednesday 10 December 2025.
About Cross Border Connection in England
Cross Border Connection is a joint project between National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and SP Energy Networks. National Grid is developing the section of the project located in England which extends from the England-Scotland border to the Carlisle area. SP Energy Networks is developing the section of the project located in Scotland, which extends from the proposed Gala North Substation to the Scotland-England border. You can find more about SP Energy Networks’ proposals here.
During this consultation, we’d like your feedback on our proposals , which include:
• a new 400 kilovolt (400 kV) substation in the Carlisle area (‘new Carlisle substation’);
• a new 400 kV overhead line from the substation to the England–Scotland border; and
• a connection from the new substation to the existing electricity network.
Get updates
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View our proposals
You can read more about our proposals by visiting our Document library. You can see our early thoughts about where our proposals could potentially be located by using our Interactive map.
Cross Border Connection in Scotland
SP Energy Networks has proposed a route for the Scottish section of the project, up to the Scotland-England border, which was subject to public consultation in autumn 2024 and spring 2025. They will submit their own separate consenting application for the Scottish section via the Energy Consents Unit to Scottish Ministers.
For information about SP Energy Networks' proposals, including detailed maps, consultation materials and contact details, please visit SP Energy Networks’ project website.
Why is the project being proposed?
Electricity demand is rising across the country, including here in the North of England. To meet this growing need, we’re planning new transmission infrastructure.
Cross Border Connection is part of a wider upgrade to the electricity network, helping move more power between Scotland and England.
Once built, it could deliver enough clean, home-grown energy to power up to six million homes – supporting a stronger, more secure energy future.
Cross Border Connection is one of the projects that makes up The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the grid in generations. The Great Grid Upgrade will future proof the grid for years to come, facilitating the transition to a clean and affordable energy future.
Our proposals
Cross Border Connection would upgrade the electricity transmission network by providing:
- a new 400 kV substation in the Carlisle area (‘new Carlisle substation’)
- a new 400 kV overhead line between the new Carlisle substation and the England-Scotland border
- a connection from the new Carlisle substation to the existing network.
We are currently considering two options for the location of the new Carlisle substation.
Why we are consulting on two options for where the substation could be located
Electricity demand is rising across the UK, including here in the North of England. To meet this growing demand, more electricity is being generated – and we need to strengthen the transmission network to carry that power to homes, businesses, and public services.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) regularly reviews how the network must evolve to support a more secure, cleaner and reliable energy future. Based on their recommendations, more transmission upgrades are likely to be needed in the North.
As National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), it’s our job to develop proposals for new infrastructure based on NESO’s recommendations. We aim to balance delivering value for money with reducing impacts on communities, the environment, and important heritage sites like the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site (Hadrian’s Wall WHS).
Right now, we’re considering two possible locations for a new substation, as the choice may depend on other potential projects. We will also carefully consider your feedback from this consultation, alongside technical and environmental assessments.
As our plans develop, we’ll keep you informed and continue to consult with you.
The two options for where the substation could be located
Option A - a substation located in an area north of Carlisle
This option would include approximately 28 kilometre (km) of proposed overhead line. This includes overhead line between the proposed substation and England-Scotland border, and between the proposed substation and existing Harker substation.
Option B - a substation located in an area south of Carlisle
This option would include approximately 47 km of proposed overhead line. This includes overhead line between the proposed substation and England-Scotland border, and between the proposed substation and existing Harker-Hutton overhead line.
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
The English section of the Cross Border Connection is a nationally significant project. It needs a special type of planning permission called a Development Consent Order (DCO).
Consultation is a key part of the DCO process. It gives people the chance to share their views and help shape the proposals. We’re still in the early stages, and feedback from this and future consultations—alongside technical studies, environmental surveys, and work with SP Energy Networks—will help us refine our plans before we submit a DCO application.
Once the application is submitted, the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) has up to 28 days to decide whether it meets the standards to be accepted for examination.
If accepted, the project enters a ‘pre-examination’ period, usually lasting around 30 days. During this time, we must publicise the application and let people know how to submit comments to the Planning Inspectorate (called relevant representations).
Next comes a six-month examination period, where an independent Examining Authority reviews the application, considers all comments and evidence, before preparing a report with recommendations.
The Planning Inspectorate then sends this report to the Secretary of State, who has three months to decide whether to approve or reject the DCO application.
For more details about the DCO process, visit the Planning Inspectorate's website.
SP Energy Networks is responsible for obtaining consent for the Scottish section of Cross Border Connection and will submit their own separate consenting application for the Scottish section via the Energy Consents Unit to Scottish Ministers.
Next steps
We are currently asking for feedback on our proposals in England during this Stage 1 consultation. You can find details about the proposals and view all the consultation documents in the Document library.
Your feedback – along with the findings from technical assessments and environmental surveys – will help shape our more detailed proposals for the project. We will present these refined plans during a second stage of consultation planned for 2026.
We will continue to update and work closely with local communities, landowners and local elected representatives throughout the process. Environmental assessments and surveys will continue along the proposed route to help inform our plans.
Once our proposals are finalised, we will submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate. This will include a Consultation Report showing how feedback from each stage of consultation has been considered and incorporated.
The project timeline
Contact the team
Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments about the Cross Border Connection project or for any assistance you may need accessing or responding to the information provided.
You can contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 358 1781 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, with an answerphone taking messages outside these times).
You can also write to us (no stamp required) to: FREEPOST NATIONAL GRID CBC
Landowners
If you are a landowner or occupier who is affected by our project, or you think you may be, please view our FAQ setting out more information for landowners – including contact details for our Lands Team.