Energy · Grid & power cuts · 2 November 2026
Sea Link converter station project granted development consent
The Sea Link DCO application has been granted development consent by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Planning Inspectorate confirmed the decision follows a six-month examination process. The new converter station will be built within 5km of the proposed Friston substation.
Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the Sea Link Development Consent Order application has been granted. The decision was made by Baroness Curran on behalf of the Energy Secretary’s legal authority, following recommendations to the Secretary of State. National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc submitted the application on 27 March 2025.
The project involves building a new converter station within 5km of the proposed Friston substation, connected by underground HVAC cables. The application was accepted for examination on 23 April 2025. Recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 30 July 2026 after a public examination where local people, the local authority, and other interested parties participated in a six-month process.
This marks the 118th energy application out of 186 examined to date. The process was completed within the statutory timescale of the Planning Act 2008. The announcement does not specify the operational start date or the total cost of the infrastructure build.
Written by StreetOwl from Planning Inspectorate’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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