Surveys | National Grid ET

All key stakeholders, such as the local planning authorities and environmental bodies (such as Natural England) have been fully informed of our planned works.

To understand more about the local environment, and to inform the environmental impact assessment, we need to carry out surveys. These will be on land within the corridor, on some adjoining land, and areas that have been identified through consultation feedback as potentially sensitive.

These surveys are to assess the landscape, ecology and cultural heritage aspects of the area, to inform further detailed environmental assessments. All survey information gathered will be published either as part of our preliminary environmental information report at our next stage of consultation or to support our application for a development consent order.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via the relevant details below.

Ongoing surveys

Below is a list of our ongoing and upcoming surveys. If for any reason a survey cannot take place on the scheduled date, such as poor weather conditions, we will endeavour to reschedule the survey in a timely manner.

Access to land plots are agreed before any surveys may take place. If you are a landowner and have questions about the surveys on your land, please visit the landowners page for more information.

Date	Survey	Location	Description
May - June 2023	Vantage point surveys	Kent - Public Rights of Way (PRoW)	The purpose of vantage point surveys is to record flight lines of species which are potentially sensitive to collision with infrastructure to assess collision risk. Birds on the ground within the survey area will also be recorded.
April - July 2023	Common bird census	Kent - Ebbsfleet, Cliffsend Cottington Hill, and Minster Marshes Suffolk (May-June only) - PRoW	The survey follows hedgerows, fence-lines and field margins to record any species that may be passing through the survey area. Survey routes are mapped, and the direction walked alternated on each visit, to ensure that all areas are covered at various times of day. Surveys are undertaken early in the morning, during this time, breeding birds are more active and can be detected in song more frequently. These surveys are conducted between March and July.
May 2023	Landscape viewpoint surveys	Suffolk - PRoW	Landscape viewpoint surveys are required to support the landscape (mitigation) design and the design of the layout of the proposed converter station and substation infrastructure. The site surveyors will visit locations surrounding the converter station and substation sites, cable routes and landfall, to review potential locations for publicly accessible photography.
June - July 2023	Engineering landfall surveys	Kent - Pegwell Bay	This survey is undertaken to understand the physical features of the area and their structure. Various survey techniques are used to achieve this including the use of a drone that gathers data about the natural and man-made features of the land, as well as its terrain.
June 2023	Intertidal environmental survey	Kent - Pegwell Bay	The purpose of this survey is to record the characteristics of what is found on the bottom of the intertidal seabed between the Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) and Mean Low Water (MLW) strandlines.
August - September 2023	Hobby surveys	Suffolk - PRoW	Consists of four visits, typically between April to September. The initial visit is to check for any occupancy of Hobbies. The second visit is to check for any active Hobby nests. The third visit is to again check for any more active nests but also for any young. The final check is to check for any fledged young.

Previously undertaken surveys

Date	Survey	Location	Description
March - April 2023	Common bird census	Kent - Lower Gladstone and Minster Marshes Suffolk - Aldeburgh, Saxmundham, and Thorpeness	See above.
February - April 2023	Vantage point surveys	Kent - PRoW	See above.
January - March 2023	Landscape viewpoint surveys	Suffolk - Aldeburgh, Friston, Knoddishall, Leiston, Saxmundham, and PRoW Kent - Minster Marshes and PRoW	See above. Kent only - The surveys will also allow us to review the overhead line connection over the River Stour and inform the design of the proposed overhead line towers.
October 2022 – March 2023	Wintering bird surveys	Kent – Cliffsend, Ebbsfleet, and PRoW	During a wintering bird survey, undertaken between October and March inclusive, two surveyors will look for any wintering birds; all calls and behaviour will be recorded. These will include foreshore and field counts.
September 2022	Hobby surveys	RSPB Area	See above.
July - August 2022	Arboricultural walkovers	Kent – Ebbsfleet Suffolk – Aldeburgh, Aldringham, Hazelwood, and Sizewell	Usually undertaken by two surveyors. These surveys are non-intrusive and consist of noting scientific name, measurements, age, branch spread, physiological and structural conditions, management conditions and whether there is a Tree Preservation Order or a Conservation Area Protection.
June 2022	Breeding bird survey	Suffolk – PRoW	Conducted on an allocated 1 km square, two surveyors counted all colonial nesting birds seen or heard whilst walking two 1 km lines that cross the given area.
April – May and December 2022, April 2023	Ecology phase 1 walkover	Suffolk - Aldeburgh, Aldringham, Hazelwood, Knoddishall, Leiston, and Sizewell	Undertaken by two surveyors, the survey areas the vegetation, and any species are mapped onto Ordnance Survey maps. A desk study using aerial photography was used prior to the walkover.