NATIONAL GRID (SEA LINK) DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER EN020026

REGULATION 8 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (COMPULSORY ACQUISITION) REGULATIONS 2010 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE TO AN ACCEPTED DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER NATIONAL GRID (SEA LINK) DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER EN020026

An application for a development consent order (the ‘DCO Application’) was submitted by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (the “Applicant”)
whose registered office is National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park,
Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under delegated power c/o the Planning Inspectorate on 27 March 2025 and was accepted on 23 April 2025. The DCO Application relates to the Sea Link project (the ‘Proposed Development’). The reference number applied to the DCO Application is EN020026. The DCO Application is now being examined by a panel of inspectors (‘the Examining Authority’) appointed by the Secretary of State.

Notice is hereby given that the Applicant has made an application (the
‘Change Request’) to amend the DCO Application as submitted, including
a change to the areas of land which would be subject to compulsory
acquisition.

Summary of the Proposed Development

The DCO for the Proposed Development would comprise the following
elements:

The Suffolk Onshore Scheme

• A connection from the existing transmission network via Friston (Kiln
  Lane) Substation, including the substation itself. Friston (Kiln Lane)
  Substation already has development consent as part of other third party
  projects. If Friston (Kiln Lane) Substation has already been constructed
  under another consent, only a connection into the substation would be
  constructed as part of the Proposed Development.
• A high voltage alternating current (HVAC) underground cable of
  approximately 1.9 km in length between the proposed Friston (Kiln Lane) Substation and a proposed converter station (below).
• A 2 GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station (including
  permanent access from the B1121 and a new bridge over the River
  Fromus) 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 continuing underground for
  approximately 1.7 km to a new converter station (below).
• A 2 GW HVDC converter station (including a new permanent access off
  the A256), 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 near Minster. A new
  substation would be located immediately adjacent.
• Removal of approximately 2.2 km of existing HVAC overhead line, and
  installation of two sections of new HVAC overhead line, together totalling approximately 3.5 km, each connecting from the substation near Minster and the existing Richborough to Canterbury overhead line.

The Proposed Development also includes modifications to sections of existing overhead lines in Suffolk (only if Friston (Kiln Lane) Substation is not built pursuant to another extant consent) and Kent, diversions of third-party assets, and land drainage from the construction and operational footprint. It also includes opportunities for environmental mitigation and compensation. 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 and other ancillary operations.

The DCO would also make provision for Associated Development for the construction and maintenance of the Proposed Development, including the diversion of utilities and public rights of way, provision for access, landscape works and environmental mitigation. The DCO would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Proposed Development. The DCO would also authorise the construction of temporary and permanent accesses to the Proposed Development, the temporary stopping up or diversion of public rights of way, street works, and highway works and the application and disapplication of certain legislation.

Changes to the DCO Application

During the Pre-Examination period, the Applicant has undertaken supplementary technical and survey work and continued engagement with
stakeholders. The Applicant has also reviewed Relevant Representations
submitted by respondents on the DCO Application. As a result of this ongoing work and dialogue, the Applicant is proposing to incorporate five
design changes into the Proposed Development to respond to comments,
to deliver improvements to the Proposed Development and reduce its overall impacts.

The Applicant submitted a Notification of Change Request(the ‘Notification
Letter’) to the Examining Authorityon 16 September 2025 which outlined the Applicant’s proposal to apply for amendments to the Proposed Development. The Examining Authority issued procedural decision under Rule 9 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 (the ‘Examination Rules’) responding to the Notification Letter on 25 September 2025 (the ‘Rule 9 Letter’). The Applicant consulted on the proposed changes to the DCO Application between 7 October and 7 November 2025. The Change Request was submitted to the Examining Authority on 26 November 2025.

Proposed Provision of Additional Land

Additional compulsory acquisition powers are sought (in relation to land outside of the current Order Limits) or the proposed changes comprised in the Change Request will involve different or new types of rights being sought in relation to land within the current Order Limits of the DCO Application for the following proposed changes:

• Change to access at the Hoverport, Kent

The Applicant is proposing to adjust the Order Limits for the DCO Application (the land needed to build, operate and maintain the Proposed Development)to ensure minimal impact on the saltmarsh habitat when carrying out works. The Applicant is proposing to extend the width of potential access from the hoverport to the intertidal area within the Order
Limits to provide flexibility in the route that vehicles will take to access the
intertidal area. There would be no additional vehicles accessing the area
as a result of this change nor would a greater area be affected as only one
route would be utilised. The change will mean there will be no significant
impacts on saltmarsh from driving vehicles to access the intertidal area
during construction, operation and maintenance.

The proposed provision of additional land will secure the rights to access
this area.

• Change to the Limits of Deviation Works Plans at Friston (Kiln Lane) substation, Suffolk

A further change has also been requested that does not result in the
proposed provision of additional land and does not therefore engage the
Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Purchase) Regulations 2010.

This change proposes to extend the area for Work 1B as set out in Schedule 1 to the draft DCO Order to align with those consented through two Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) projects. This would not allow construction of the substation outside the area already consented under the SPR consents. It would not require any change to the Sea Link Order Limits or the land plans forming part of the DCO Application. All land within the revised area would be required for the Proposed Development as a whole and the size of the substation would remain as previously proposed, just with more flexibility over its location.

• Minor Change to the Order Limits East of Friston, Suffolk

The Applicant is proposing to adjust the Order Limits along the route of the new underground cable to the east of Friston to provide additional flexibility for the route to be designed in a way that minimises the impact on archaeological assets, depending on the outcome of future detailed design.

The proposed provision of additional land will secure the rights to access
this area and the changes involve seeking different or new types of rights within the current Order Limits. The Applicant would only exercise compulsory acquisition powers over the land required for the cable route, and not the full extent of the additional land.

• Benhall Railway Bridge, Suffolk

The Applicant proposes adding additional highway land around Benhall
Railway Bridge (on the B1121) and a small area of Network Rail land along
the railway line into the Order Limits. This is to provide certainty on the consenting route for works to enable the transport of Abnormal Indivisible
Loads over the bridge and enable works to carry out repairs to the bridge
should this prove to be the best performing solution.

The Applicant is seeking temporary use powers in relation to this additional
land to provide certainty on the consenting route for the works referred to
above.

• Increase in area for maintenance of a new hedge to south of B1119, Suffolk

The Applicant proposes widening the strip of land south of the B1119 (near
Fristonmoor Lane in Suffolk) to provide sufficient space for the temporary
public right of way, new proposed hedgerow (which is essential mitigation)
and areas to enable maintenance of the new hedge and existing drainage
ditch.

The proposed provision of additional land will secure the rights to access
this area to enable maintenance activities to take place.

This notice relates to a consultation on this proposed provision of additional
land following the submission of documentation by the Applicant to the
Examining Authority to support its Change Request for that proposed
provision.

Copies of Change Request Documents

In respect of the proposed provision of additional land, a plan showing the additional land, copies of the Land Plans, Statement of Reasons, Supplementary Book of Reference, draft Development Consent Order,
Explanatory Memorandum, and the other documents submitted with the Change Request and the proposed provision of additional land are available to view online for free of charge on the Planning Inspectorate’s webpages.

These updated Funding Statement also demonstrates how the proposed
provision of additional land is to be funded by the Applicant.

The Proposed Development’s Project Page on the Planning Inspectorate
website can be found here:
https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
projects/EN020026

These documents will be available on the above website via the Document tab throughout the Examining Authority’s examination of the DCO Application.

The documents listed above can be viewed electronically, free of charge,
at the electronic deposit locations listed in the table below from
9 December 2025 until 19 January 2026.*

*Please contact the venues in advance to confirm opening hours, any restrictions that may be in place and, if necessary, to arrange an appointment for computer access to view the documents electronically. The details of the opening hours above are correct at the time of this notice.

On request printed copies of the documents listed above will be supplied in
hard copy format at a cost of £0.35 per page (up to a maximum of £500 for
a full suite of documents). If you require a copy of the documents referred
to above to be supplied on a USB data stick, this can be provided free of charge (one USB stick per household). Please use the contact details below to request a USB data stick. Requests should be made to:

• Email: Write to us, or send a completed response form contact@sealink.nationalgrid.com
• Telephone: 0808 134 9569 or
• By post to Freepost SEA LINK
  
  

If you require the documents in an accessible format, or have specific
accessibility needs in relation to our consultation, please get in touch by
emailing or calling the Applicant using the contact details above.

Making a Relevant Representation on the Change Request

Any person may make representations in relation to the proposed provision of additional land to the Secretary of State (including giving notice of any
interest in the Change Request or the land affected by it, or making any
comment on or objection to the Change Request). Any representation relating to the Change Request must be submitted on a registration form and give the grounds on which it is made.

Please note that your relevant representation to register as an interested party will also be treated by the Planning Inspectorate as your Written Representation (your views on the project), and you are not required to also submit this separately (although you can still do so if you wish).

Any person, other than the applicant, who submits a written representation must identify those parts of the application with which they agree and those parts with which they do not agree, explaining the reasons why. Interested parties should also provide with their written representations any data, methodology and assumptions used to support their submissions to avoid delays in the examination.

Comments must only relate only to the applicant’s proposed provision for the
compulsory acquisition of additional land as set out in the applicant’s change
request application of 26 November 2026. Any comments that are not about this will not be seen by the ExA.

The Registration and Relevant Representation form will be made available
by the Planning Inspectorate on the relevant page for the DCO Application
via the National Infrastructure website:
https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
projects/EN020026

Alternatively, you can request a hard copy of the form by telephoning
0303 444 5000 quoting the name of the DCO Application and the Planning
Inspectorate reference is EN020026. A completed hard copy form must be
submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the deadline referred to below
and should be sent to: The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House,
2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.

Please quote reference number EN020026 in all correspondence with the
Planning Inspectorate about the DCO Application.

The period for making a relevant representation in relation to the proposed
provision of additional land starts on Tuesday 9 December 2025 and
will end at 23:59 on Monday 19 January 2026. Please note that any
representations made to the Planning Inspectorate will be made public
and published on the National Infrastructure Planning website for the
Application. Representations will be subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s privacy policy at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-
inspectorate-privacy-notices/customer-privacy-notice

Further information about the DCO Application can be found on the
Planning Inspectorate project webpage:
https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
projects/EN020026 or by contacting the Applicant on the details above.