Government approves 138km Sea Link cable between Kent and Suffolk
National Grid's 2GW subsea link across the North Sea has cleared the planning process, though conservation groups warn of impacts on wildlife and coastal habitats.
The government has approved Sea Link, a major undersea electricity cable that will connect Kent and Suffolk.
The project, planned by National Grid, will run for 138km beneath the North Sea. It will link Pegwell Bay in Kent with the Suffolk coast near Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.
The cable is designed to carry up to 2GW of low-carbon electricity from where it is generated to homes and businesses elsewhere in the country. National Grid said that capacity is equivalent to the demand of two million homes.
Grid role
Sea Link is intended to help move power from offshore wind farms, interconnectors and nuclear power stations, strengthening the wider network.
The government said the scheme would ease pressure on the grid and reduce the need to pay generators to switch off power that the network cannot carry. It added that the project would support efforts to improve energy security and cut reliance on fossil fuels.
Environmental objections
Conservationists have raised concerns that the plans could affect wildlife, sensitive coastal habitats and the wider landscape.
Kent Wildlife Trust said it was "deeply disappointed" by the decision, as first reported by the BBC. A spokesperson said the organisation recognised the need to upgrade the electricity network for a low-carbon future. The spokesperson also pointed to what they called a "profound irony" in destroying or degrading natural habitats that help tackle climate change.
The trust said it would continue to challenge the project and hold those responsible to account.
The Planning Inspectorate said it had listened to local views and fully considered the evidence gathered before making its recommendation.
