Saxmundham, Planning Notice

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC SECTION 47 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008 (AS AMENDED) SEA LINK

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF A STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission pic (NGET) of National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA has now published a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) for the Sea Link Project in accordance with section 47 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended). This is the second time the Notice of the Statement of Community Consultation has been published as it was originally published in October 2023 as part of a statutory consultation for the project.

The Sea Link Project ('proposed Project') involves the reinforcement of the electricity transmission network between Suffolk and Kent, predominantly via offshore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, but with onshore elements to connect into the transmission network. The proposed Project is split into three key elements, as follows.

The Suffolk Onshore Scheme

* A connection from the existing transmission network via Friston Substation, including the substation itself. Friston Substation already has development consent as part of other third-party projects. If Friston Substation has already been constructed under another consent, only a connection into the substation would be constructed by the Sea Link Project.

* A high voltage alternating current (HVAC) underground cable of approximately 1.7 km in length between the proposed Friston Substation and a proposed converter station (below).

* A 2 GW HVDC converter station up to 26 m high plus external equipment (such as lightning protection, safety rails for maintenance works, ventilation equipment, aerials, similar small scale operational plant, or other roof treatment) near Saxmundham.

* A HVDC underground cable connection of approximately 10 km in length between the proposed converter station near Saxmundham, and a transition joint bay (TJB) approximately 900 m inshore from a landfall point (below) where the cable transitions from onshore to offshore technology.

* A landfall on the Suffolk coast (between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness).

The Offshore Scheme

* Approximately 122 km of subsea HVDC cable, running between the Suffolk landfall location (between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness), and the Kent landfall location at Pegwell Bay.

The Kent Onshore Scheme

* A landfall point on the Kent coast at Pegwell Bay.

* A TJB approximately 800 m inshore to transition from offshore HVDC cable to onshore HVDC cable, before the cable continues underground for approximately 1.7 km to a proposed new converter station (below).

* A 2 GW HVDC converter station, up to 28 m high plus external equipment (such as lightning protection, safety rails for maintenance works, ventilation equipment, aerials, and similar small scale operational plant, or other roof treatment), near Minster. A new substation would be located immediately adjacent.

* Removal of approximately 2.2 km of existing HVAC overhead line, and installation of approximately 3.5 km of new HVAC overhead line from the converter station and substation near Minster and the existing Richborough to Canterbury overhead line.

The Proposed Project also includes modifications to sections of existing overhead lines in Suffolk (only if Friston Substation is not build by SPR) and Kent, diversions of third-party assets, and land drainage from the construction and operational footprint. It also includes opportunities for environmental mitigation, compensation and enhancement. The construction phase will involve various temporary construction activities including overhead line diversions, use of temporary towers or masts, working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, parking spaces, storage, accesses, bellmouths, and haul roads, as well as watercourse crossings and the diversion of public rights of way (PROWs).

The proposed development will include other required works, for example, temporary access roads, highway works, temporary works compounds, work sites and ancillary works.

The proposed application will seek authorisation for the compulsory acquisition of land and interests in and rights over land, overriding easements and other rights, the temporary use of land, and other ancillary powers.

Under section 47 of the Planning Act 2008, NGET has a duty to consult the community on its proposals. A further consultation will be carried out in accordance with the SoCC, which was prepared for the previous statutory consultation which was held between 24 October and 18 December 2023. The SoCC allows for further targeted consultations in accordance with the principles and methods set out in the SoCC.

This notice explains where the further consultation documents can be viewed (including the Project Update Document which explains how people can comment on the proposals and provide responses to the consultation). This process is in accordance with the SoCC which confirms that further targeted statutory consultation would be undertaken, so far as relevant and proportionate, in accordance with the principles and methods set out in the SoCC.

The proposed project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, as defined by The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.

A further consultation will take place between 08 July 2024 and 11 August 2024 (23:59). Following the previous statutory consultation which took place between 24 October and 18 December 2023 NGET has been reviewing feedback and making a series of refinements to Project proposals and the further consultation will focus on these refinements. The proposed changes are grouped into four categories that include permanent infrastructure; construction and maintenance work; mitigation, enhancements and approach to biodiversity net gain; and strategy for coordination.

The changes to the proposals in Suffolk include an alteration to the cable route north of Aldeburgh; confirmation of the proposed access route to the Saxmundham converter station, and alterations to the route and associated bridge over the River Fromus; various changes to construction and maintenance access routes, compounds, and temporary overhead line diversions; and areas of newly introduced environmental mitigation and enhancement. The strategy for coordination with other third-party proposals in the vicinity has also evolved. Changes to the proposals offshore include refinements to the cable route; the introduction of additional marine areas for construction vessel manoeuvring; and changes to the approach for backfilling marine trenches. Changes in Kent include an increase of the overall maximum height of the converter station; confirmation of the use of standard pylon type for the AC connection; the introduction of a further construction and maintenance access route off Sandwich Road via the former hoverport; various other changes to construction and maintenance access routes, compounds, and temporary overhead line diversions; and areas of newly introduced environmental mitigation and enhancement. This further consultation contains details of the construction methodology including working hours.

We have also made a range of smaller changes to our proposals. These include various refinements, including reductions and increases to the size of the draft order limits, which comprise the land we would need to build and operate Sea Link.

During the further consultation, the SoCC and all other consultation materials are available to view free of charge on the project website at: www.nationalarid.com/sealink

Reference copies of the SoCC will also be available to view free of charge from 08 July 2024 for the duration of the consultation which ends at 23:59 on 11 August 2024 at the following locations in the vicinity of the project:

Location

Saxmundham Library

Address

Block B, Street Farm Rd, Saxmundham IP17 1AL

Opening times

Mon: Closed

Tues: 09:30 - 17:30

Weds: 09:30 - 17:30

Thur: Closed

Fri: 09:30 - 17:30

Sat: 10:00 - 13:00

Sun: 10:00 - 15:00

Location

Leiston Library

Address

Main St, Leiston IP16 4ER

Opening times

Mon: Closed

Tues: 09:30 - 19:30

Weds: Closed

Thur: 09:30 - 17:30

Fri: 09:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:00

Sat: 09:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:00

Sun: 10:00 - 15:00

Location

Aldeburgh Library

Address

Victoria Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5EG

Opening times

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00

Tues: 09:00 - 13:00

Wed: 09:00 - 18:00

Thur: 09:00 - 13:00

Fri: 09:00 - 13:00

Sat: 10:00 - 15:00

Sun: 10:00 - 13:00

Location

Snape Village Hall

Address

5 Garrett CI, Snape, Saxmundham IP17 1RN

Opening times

Village hall opening depending on events.

Contact the village hall in advance via email at snapevillagehallbookings@gmail.com or VH-chair@snapevillage.info

Location

Friston Village Hall

Address

Church Rd, Friston, Saxmundham IP17 1PU

Opening times

Village hall open depending on events.

Contact the village hall in advance via email at fristonvillagehall@gmail.com or at 01728 687914.

Location

Ash Library

Address

11 Queen's Rd, Ash, Canterbury CT3 2BG

Opening times

Mon: 11:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 -  15:00

Tues: 09:30 - 13:00

Weds: 09:30 - 14:00

Thur: Closed

Fri: 11:30 - 17:00

Sat: 09:00 - 14:00

Sun: Closed

Location

Minster Library

Address

4a Monkton Rd, Minster, Ramsgate CT12 4EA

Opening hours

Mon: 13:00 - 17:00

Tues: 09:30 - 13:30

Weds: Closed

Thur: 12:00 - 17:00

Fri: 10:00 - 16:00

Sat: 09:30 - 13:30

Sun: Closed

Location

Sandwich Library

Address

13 Market St, Sandwich CT13 9DA

Opening times

Mon: Closed

Tues: 09:30 - 17:00

Weds: Closed

Thur: 09:30 - 17:00

Fri: 09:30 - 17:00

Sat: 09:30 - 15:00

Sun: Closed

Location

Ramsgate Library

Address

Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate CT11 9AY

Opening times

Mon: Closed

Tues: 09:30 - 17:30

Weds: 09:30 - 17:30

Thur: 09:30 - 16:30

Fri: 09:30 - 17:30

Sat: 09:30 - 15:30

Sun: Closed

Location

Newington Library

Royal Harbour Academy, Stirling Way, Ramsgate CT12 6 FA

Opening hours

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:30

Tues: 09:00 - 13:00

Weds: Closed

Thur: 09:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:30

Fri: Closed

Sat: 09:00 - 13:00

Sun: Closed

Location

Thanet District Council

Address

Thanet District Council, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1AY

Opening times

Mon: 08:45 - 17:00

Tues: 08:45 - 17:00

Weds: 08:45 - 17:00

Thur: 08:45 - 17:00

Fri: 08:45 - 17:00

Sat: Closed Sun: Closed

Location

Margate Library at Thanet Gateway Plus

Address

Thanet's Gateway Plus, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1 RE

Opening times

Mon: 10:00 - 17:30

Tues: 10:00 - 17:00

Weds: 10:00 - 17:00

Thur: 10:00 - 17:30

Fri: 10:00 - 17:30

Sat: 10:00 - 15:30

Sun: Closed

Materials will be available to view during the opening hours listed above, except in circumstances outside of NGET's control which prevent the locations specified from opening. To request a printed or alternative format copy of the SoCC, please contact the project team via the details at the bottom of this notice.

If you have any questions about the project or the consultation, please get in touch:

Online nationalgrid.com/sealink Hours of operation 24/7

Email contact@sealink.nationalgrid.com Hours of operation 09:00 - 17:00 weekdays

Freephone 0808 134 9569 Hours of operation 09:00 - 17:00 weekdays

Post Freepost SEA LINK Hours of operation 24/7