Planning and marine licence applications submitted for renewable energy project in County Durham
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National Grid has submitted the necessary applications for its proposed green energy project, SEGL1 - a planning application to Durham County Council for onshore works in England and a marine licence application jointly with ScottishPower Transmission to the Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland for the subsea cable.
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National Grid’s planned ‘renewable energy superhighway’ to County Durham from Scotland will bring more renewable power to the network, playing an important role in UK’s net zero ambitions.
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Feedback on the project can be shared via Durham County Council’s planning portal.
National Grid has submitted a planning application to Durham County Council for the onshore elements of a new High Voltage Direct Current ‘renewable energy superhighway’ that will run from the Torness area in East Lothian and connect to the wider National Grid network at Hawthorn Pit in County Durham.
The project has also submitted a marine licence application to the Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland for SEGL1’s 176km submarine cable, the offshore element of the proposed link. If approved, the Scotland to England Green Link 1, or SEGL1, will be an important part of National Grid’s drive to meet the UK’s net-zero energy commitments, bringing more renewable power to England’s energy network.
Before submitting its applications, National Grid held two rounds of public consultation, taking feedback from local residents and organisations on the onshore elements of its proposed project. The onshore elements include a new converter station and substation constructed close to existing National Grid infrastructure at Hawthorn Pit, and an underground cable from a landfall point north of Seaham to Hawthorn Pit.
Following National Grid’s submission, Durham County Council will embark on its own consultation on the proposed project via its planning portal. You can find the SEGL1 planning application by quoting the reference number: DM/22/01663/OUT.
The marine licence application can be viewed in the public register using the reference number MLA/2022/00231.
If SEGL1 is approved, construction is expected to begin in 2024 and complete in 2027.
If approved and constructed, SEGL1 will play a major role in getting UK-produced renewable energy from where it is generated to the homes and businesses that need it.
Neil Lyons, National Grid’s SEGL Project Director, said: “The submission of our SEGL1 planning application and marine licence application marks a significant milestone in a project that has been several years in the making. If approved and constructed, SEGL1 will play a major role in getting UK-produced renewable energy from where it is generated to the homes and businesses that need it.
“We appreciate the engagement that we have had from communities during our own public consultation, and we encourage everyone interested in the project to review our planning application on Durham County Council’s planning portal.”
To learn more about the project, visit the SEGL1 website at www.nationalgrid.com/segl1.
Media contact:
Helen Blake 07790 824788
[email protected]
