Opportunity for local residents to have a say on proposals to boost capacity across the electricity transmission network in Suffolk and Kent
- New electricity reinforcement needed by 2030 to carry renewable and low carbon power to homes and businesses
- Project will help UK achieve net zero by 2050
- National Grid is consulting communities for 8 weeks as part of statutory consultation, starting Tuesday 24 October
National Grid is encouraging communities in Suffolk and Kent to comment on proposals for a new electricity infrastructure project as part of an eight-week statutory consultation process which runs between 24 October and 18 December 2023.
Sea Link is needed to carry renewable and low carbon power from offshore wind, interconnectors and nuclear power to where it’s needed. The proposals include a new, primarily offshore, 145 km cable connection from Pegwell Bay in Kent to a point on the Suffolk Coast between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness. Plans include the onshore infrastructure needed at either end, such as converter stations and substations, to connect the power onto the existing network so it can be transported to homes and businesses around the country.
National Grid held an initial consultation last year to introduce the project to local communities and gather feedback on the proposals. This statutory consultation will give local communities the opportunity to see how the plans have developed and to provide further feedback on the proposals before National Grid submits a planning application to the Planning Inspectorate.
Adrian Pierssene, Project Director for Sea Link, commented: “This reinforcement between Suffolk and Kent is essential in the UK’s journey to net zero by 2050 and is part of a wider programme to upgrade the entire network. We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and we welcome feedback on our proposals.”
Over the eight-week period, members of the public will be able to attend in-person events, dial into webinars, collect information from local deposit points or book an ‘ask the experts’ appointment.
The following tables show when and where the public information exhibitions are being held:
Suffolk
Date | Time | Location |
Wednesday 8 November | 12pm to 5:30pm | Old Generator Station, Aldeburgh, IP15 5HY |
Thursday 9 November | 11am to 4:30pm | Old Generator Station, Aldeburgh, IP15 5HY |
Friday 24 November | 2pm to 8:30pm | Market Hall, Saxmundham, IP17 1AF |
Saturday 25 November | 2pm to 8:30pm | Market Hall, Saxmundham, IP17 1AF |
Kent
Date | Time | Location |
Wednesday 15 November | 2pm to 8:30pm | Cliffsend Village Hall, Ramsgate, CT12 5JH |
Thursday 16 November | 12pm to 5:30pm | Minster Village Hall, Minster, CT12 4BU |
Wednesday 29 November | 2pm to 8:30pm | Cliffsend Village Hall, Ramsgate, CT12 5JH |
Saturday 2 December | 12pm to 6:30pm | Royal Harbour Academy, Newington, CT12 6FA |
The following table shows when and where in-person ‘ask the experts’ sessions are being held. Additional telephone and video call appointments will also be available throughout the consultation period upon request. Attendees to the ‘ask the experts’ sessions must have a pre-booked appointment in order to attend these sessions. Please get in touch with the team to book a slot.
Suffolk
Date | Time | Location |
Thursday 23 November | 2:30pm to 7:30pm | Friston Village Hall, Friston, IP17 1PU |
Kent
Date | Time | Location |
Friday 1 December | 5pm to 8:30pm | Royal Harbour Academy, Newington, CT12 6FA |
The following table shows when the online webinars are taking place. For more information and to sign up, please visit nationalgrid.com/sealink.
Date | Time | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Wednesday 25 October | 6pm to 7pm | Onshore proposals in Suffolk and marine proposals |
Thursday 26 October | 6pm to 7pm | Onshore proposals in Kent and marine proposals |
Tuesday 31 October | 2pm to 3pm | Onshore proposals in Suffolk and marine proposals |
Wednesday 1 November | 2pm to 3pm | Onshore proposals in Kent and marine proposals |
The following table shows the deposit locations and opening times:
Suffolk
Location | Opening hours |
Saxmundham Library (Block B, Street Farm Rd, Saxmundham IP17 1AL) | Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30am–5:30pm Saturday 10am–1pm Sunday 10am–3pm |
Leiston Library (Main St, Leiston IP16 4ER) | Tuesday 9:30am–7:30pm Thursday 9:30pm–5:30pm Friday and Saturday 9:30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Sunday 10am–3pm |
Aldeburgh Library (Victoria Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5EG) | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am–1pm Wednesday 9am–6pm Saturday 10am–3pm Sunday 10am–1pm |
Snape Village Hall (5 Garrett Cl, Snape, Saxmundham IP17 1RN) | Monday to Saturday 7am–7pm |
Friston Village Hall (Church Rd, Friston, Saxmundham IP17 1PU) | Opening hours vary. Please contact the venue directly for opening hours via email ([email protected]) or by phone (01728 687914) |
Kent
Location | Opening hours |
|---|---|
Ash Library (11 Queen's Rd, Ash, Canterbury CT3 2BG) | Monday 11:30am–1pm and 2pm–3pm Tuesday 9:30am–1pm Wednesday 9:30am–2pm Friday 11:30am–5pm Saturday 9am–2pm |
Minster Library (4a Monkton Rd, Minster, Ramsgate CT12 4EA) | Monday 1pm–5pm Tuesday and Sunday 9:30am–1:30pm Thursday 12pm–5pm Friday 10am–4pm |
Sandwich Library (13 Market St, Sandwich CT13 9DA) | Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30am–5pm Saturday 9:30am–3pm |
Ramsgate Library (Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate CT11 9AY) | Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30am–5:30pm Thursday 9:30am–4:30pm Saturday 9:30am–3:30pm |
Newington Library (Royal Harbour Academy, Stirling Way, Ramsgate CT12 6FA) | Monday and Thursday 9am–1pm and 2pm–5:30pm Tuesday and Saturday 9am–1pm |
Margate Library (Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1RE) | Monday, Thursday and Friday 10am–5:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday 10am–5pm Saturday 10am–3:30pm |
Thanet District Council (Cecil Street, Margate CT9 1AY) | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:45am–5pm |
All information about the consultation and how to give feedback can be found on the project website at nationalgrid.com/sealink.
Residents who prefer to respond to the consultation via post can request a printed copy of the feedback form and a free post envelope by calling the information line on 0808 134 9569 or by emailing [email protected].
Notes to editors
Contact for media information only:
Helen Blake +44 07790 824788
Sea Link requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) in order to build, operate and maintain the proposed reinforcement. This is a special type of application for certain types of project, where an independent panel of inspectors is appointed to review the plans. Once submitted, it can take up to 18 months before a decision is made. The inspectors will issue a recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will make the final decision. National Grid anticipates submitting a DCO application for Sea Link in late 2024.
[1] Opening times are subject to change, residents can contact venues directly or the Project Team for an update.
