Eastern Green Link 3 And Eastern Green Link 4 - National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY Transmission PLC
Eastern Green Link 3 And Eastern Green Link 4 (The Projects)

The Planning Act 2008 (Pa 2008) - Section 47 (6) ‘Notice Publicising The Statement Of Community Consultation’

Notice Of Publication Of Statement Of Community Consultation (“Socc”) 

The Application
Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission plc of 1-3 Strand, London, EC2N 5EH (the Applicant), is proposing to submit an application to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for development consent (the “Application”) for the Projects.

Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4) are two high voltage electricity links between Scotland and England, with converter stations and associated onshore infrastructure, which will each provide an additional 2GW of transmission capacity to the national grid. 

The Projects form part of the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’, which will facilitate the connection of renewable energy, including up to 50GW of offshore wind, to the UK’s electricity network. 

This will provide substantial support to meeting the UK Government’s net-zero ambitions and reduce the country’s dependency on fossil-fuels.

On 29 February 2024, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero issued two separate directions pursuant to Section 35 of the PA 2008 that confirmed both Projects (the Projects) independently should be treated as a development for which development consent is required. 

The Applicant subsequently decided that the Projects were to be consented by way of one joint development consent order (DCO), given the nature and proximity of the works.

About the Projects
The Projects will comprise permanent and temporary infrastructure including, but not limited to the following elements:

• two converter stations in the Walpole area, with one converter station for EGL 3 and one for EGL 4

• offshore high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. In English waters, EGL 3’s cable would be approximately 436 km long and EGL 4’s would be approximately 425 km long

• transition joint bays to connect our offshore and onshore HVDC cables, located onshore near to our proposed cables landfall at Anderby Creek on the Lincolnshire coastline

• onshore underground HVDC cables running together for approximately 100 km from the joint landfall at Anderby Creek to the EGL 3 and EGL 4 converter stations in the Walpole area, West Norfolk

• one substation in the Walpole area, called Walpole B, where both EGL 3 and EGL 4’s Walpole converter stations would connect to and then onto the electricity transmission network (this substation is also jointly proposed as part of NGET’s Grimsby to Walpole project)

• underground high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables that would connect the converter stations into the substation

• supplementary works to the existing 400 kV overhead line to enable a connection with the new Walpole substation 

Sufficient land would be required in order to construct and operate EGL 3 and EGL 4 and to reduce the potential impacts of the projects, including:

• temporary land for construction activities including work areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, welfare, storage, access and drainage

• land required for mitigation, compensation and enhancement of the environment as a result of the environmental assessment process, and for the purposes of delivering biodiversity net gain (BNG), for example by landscaping and planting.

The Projects 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.

The Projects are “EIA Development” for the purposes of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (the EIA Regulations).

The Applicant has notified the Secretary of State in writing under Regulation 8(1)(b) of the EIA Regulations that they intend to provide an Environmental Statement (ES) in respect of the Projects as part of the Proposed Application which will contain information about the environmental effects of the Projects.

Statement of Community Consultation
Before making the Application, the Applicant has a duty under section 47 of the PA 2008 to produce a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC). The SoCC explains the public consultation which the Applicant intends to undertake. It sets out how the Applicant will consult the local community about their proposals and how those with an interest can take part.

The Applicant consulted with the following local planning authorities on the SoCC, before making it available for public inspection:

• Host Authorities:
  Lincolnshire County Council
  Norfolk County Council
  Cambridgeshire County Council
  South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (Boston Borough Council,
  East Lindsey District Council & South Holland District Council)
  Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk
  Fenland District Council

• Neighbouring Authorities:
  Nottinghamshire County Council
  Leicestershire County Council
  Rutland County Council
  North Northamptonshire Council
  Hertfordshire County Council
  Essex County Council
  Suffolk County Council
  North East Lincolnshire Council
  North Lincolnshire Council
  West Lindsey District Council
  North Kesteven District Council
  South Kesteven District Council
  Peterborough City Council
  Bedford Borough Council
  Central Bedfordshire Council
  Huntingdonshire District Council
  East Cambridgeshire District Council
  West Suffolk District Council
  Breckland District Council
  North Norfolk District Council

The consultation on the Projects will take place between 12pm noon on 13 May 2025 and 11.59pm on 23 June 2025.

The SoCC, will be available to view free of charge on the Projects website (nationalgrid.com/egl3andegl4) from 9am Wednesday 7 May until the end of the consultation period. All other consultation materials will be available on the Projects website from 12pm Tuesday 13 May until 11.59pm 23 June 2025.

If you would like a paper copy of the SoCC or any documents that will be published as part of this consultation, please let us know, using the contact details given below.

In accordance with the notice issued pursuant to section 48 of the PA 2008, a cost may be associated with larger requests to cover printing and postage. 

Alternatively, if you would like a USB containing the documents, please let us know and we will send one free of charge.

Local Information Points
Reference paper copies of the SoCC will be available from Wednesday 7 May in the

following locations:

Prior to attending these locations, it is advised that opening hours are checked with the venues as opening hours may be subject to change.

If you have any queries about the Projects or the consultation, please get in touch: Email: contactegl3and4@nationalgrid.com 

Telephone: 0800 298 0405

Freepost: Freepost EASTERN GREEN LINKS 3 & 4 (no stamp required)