Information for landowners
As we develop our plans for Grimsby to Walpole, we'll continue to work closely with landowners, occupiers and land agents across the region.
You may hear from us, or our land supplier Dalcour Maclaren, as we carry out surveys and develop our proposals. If we identify that you have a legal interest in land that may be affected by the project, we'll contact you directly.
More information about our ongoing surveys, including upcoming alternating current (AC) mitigation surveys, and land rights and compulsory acquisition can be found on this page. If you have questions about land matters relating to the project, please contact Dalcour Maclaren using the details on this page.
Surveys
As we develop our proposals, we need to understand more about the local environment, existing infrastructure and ground conditions.
We carry out a range of surveys to help inform the project's design and environmental assessment, surveys we expect to carry out in September 2026 include:
- Agriculture & Soil: Agricultural Land Classification Survey (ALC) - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Aquatics - Macroinvertebrates - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Bats - GLTA and Tree Climbing - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Bat Emergence surveys - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Aquatics - Fish eDNA - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Aquatics - Habitat Appraisal of Ditches - Corridor wide
- Ecology: UK Hab and Hedgerow - Corridor wide
- Ecology: Water Vole (Visit 2) - Corridor wide
- Engineering: Soil Resistivity - Corridor wide
- Engineering: Underground Utilities walkovers - Corridor wide
- Intrusive: Ground Investigation - Corridor Wide
- Intrusive: Trial Trenching - Corridor Wide
- Intrusive: ECoW Walkover and Nesting Bird checks for Phase 2 GI, TT & Water Crossing IDs - Corridor wide
- Intrusive Substation Ground Water Monitoring - Substations
- Intrusive: OHL Ground Water Monitoring - Section 5, 6 & 7
- Intrusive: Substation GI (Boreholes, trial pits, hand pits, DCPs) - Substations
- Intrusive: Geophysical Surveys HHC - Corridor wide
Where access to private land is required, we'll contact landowners and occupiers in advance to agree access arrangements. If, for any reason, a survey needs to be postponed we will endeavour to reschedule the survey in a timely manner.
AC mitigation surveys
Electricity infrastructure can sometimes interact with nearby metallic or conductive underground assets. This is not uncommon and there are regulations in place to help ensure these interactions are appropriately managed. We will be undertaking survey work beyond the proposed route. These surveys help us understand the location of underground infrastructure, such as pipelines and cables, in the region. This information will help us understand whether any additional protection measures are needed.
Being contacted about AC mitigation surveys on your land does not mean infrastructure is being proposed on your land. These surveys cover a wider area than the land that may ultimately be required for the project. The project is continuing to evolve and we'll keep affected landowners informed as our proposals develop.
These surveys are low impact and non-intrusive. If we need access to your land, we'll contact you directly to explain the survey and agree arrangements with you.
Land agreements
We're continuing to engage with landowners, occupiers and their representatives about the land and rights that may be needed for the project.
We always seek to reach voluntary agreements wherever possible and are committed to working constructively with affected landowners throughout the development of the project.
Landowners and their agents, where instructed, within the Weston Marsh CPO areas have been issued with Heads of Terms, which set out the basis for voluntary agreements.
Receiving Heads of Terms does not affect your ability to provide feedback on the project or take part in future consultations.
Dalcour Maclaren is continuing to engage with landowners and their agents, where instructed, regarding Heads of Terms and land requirements for the project.
If you've received correspondence and would like to discuss it, please contact Dalcour Maclaren using the contact details on this page.
Land rights and compulsory acquisition
We are progressing the compulsory purchase process for land and rights required to deliver Weston Marsh Substation A and its associated connections.
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) allows land or rights over land to be acquired. This is subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. National Grid has made a CPO application for Weston Marsh Substation A.
The CPO relates to land and rights required to support the delivery of Weston Marsh Substation A, including associated overhead line works needed to connect the Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm to the electricity transmission network.
If we believe you have an interest in land included within the CPO, or may otherwise be affected by it, you'll receive formal notification directly. This notification will explain:
- why you are being contacted
- the land or rights included within the CPO
- how to view the order and supporting documents
- how to submit an objection or representation
- the dates by which any objections must be received
Copies of the CPO, accompanying plans and supporting information are available to view below and at local deposit locations. The local deposit locations are at
- Spalding Library, 4 Victoria Street, Spalding, PE11 1EA
- Long Sutton Library, Trafalgar Square, Long Sutton, Spalding PE12 9HB
Anyone wishing to object will be able to do so directly with the Secretary of State within the statutory objection period set out in the notice.
Get in touch
You can contact our Lands team at Dalcour Maclaren by:
Freephone: 0333 034 7961
Email: [email protected].
Post: The Barn, Bignell Park Barns, Chesterton, Bicester OX26 1TD
If you have a general query about the project, please contact the Grimsby to Walpole community relations team.
CPO Document Library
Frequently Asked Questions
Some surveys need to consider a wider area than the land that may ultimately be required for the project. This helps us understand existing infrastructure, ground conditions and environmental factors that could influence the project's design.
Being contacted for survey access should not be taken as an indication that infrastructure is proposed on your land.
We'll provide advance notice and agree reasonable arrangements with landowners wherever possible.
For AC mitigation surveys, you'll receive no less than 48 hours' notice before access is taken.
We'll work with landowners, occupiers and contractors to minimise disruption wherever possible and agree suitable arrangements in advance.
We recognise that survey activities can cause inconvenience, disturbance or damage. Where appropriate, survey access agreements include compensation arrangements to recognise disturbance or damage that may be caused by survey activities.
We aim to reach voluntary agreements for survey access wherever possible.
Where agreement cannot be reached, statutory powers may be available to allow access for certain surveys. Allowing access for surveys does not affect your right to comment on the project or take part in future consultations.