Our Position & What's Happens Next
Cliffsend Parish Council has followed and engaged with Sea Link throughout the development of National Grid's proposals.
The formal Development Consent Order Examination has now finished, but our involvement has not.
What has the Parish Council done?
During the earlier consultation stages, we publicised National Grid's proposals and encouraged residents to examine them and participate while formal consultation opportunities remained available.
As the proposals developed, the Council raised concerns about their potential effects upon Cliffsend and the surrounding environment.
These included the proposed use of the former hoverport, the relationship between the project and Sandwich Road, changes to the area potentially affected around Pegwell Bay, the environmental importance of the surrounding landscape and the scale and location of the proposed infrastructure near Minster.
When National Grid submitted its Development Consent Order application in March 2025, the Parish Council continued to publicise opportunities for residents to register and participate.
Cliffsend Parish Council subsequently participated directly in the formal DCO Examination, submitting representations and taking part in hearings.
Raising our concerns with our MP
The Parish Council has also raised Sea Link with our Member of Parliament, Polly Billington MP.
Ms Billington has raised environmental concerns regarding Sea Link, including its potential effects upon Pegwell Bay and Minster Marshes, with National Grid, Ministers and in Parliament.
In correspondence with the Parish Council in December 2025, she also offered to support Cliffsend in seeking meaningful and lasting community benefits if Sea Link ultimately proceeds.
Our position has not changed
Cliffsend Parish Council remains opposed to the Sea Link proposals affecting our area.
We recognise the need to strengthen Britain's electricity transmission network and support the transition towards cleaner and renewable energy.
However, recognising that national need does not require us to accept that the route proposed through our area is the right one.
Our concerns include the choice of Pegwell Bay as the Kent landfall, environmental effects upon Pegwell Bay and the former hoverport, effects upon Minster Marshes, the scale of the proposed converter station and substation, changes to the overhead electricity network and the effects of a lengthy construction programme upon our community.
What happens now?
The formal DCO Examination has closed.
On 30th July 2026, the Examining Authority submitted its Recommendation Report to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
A decision on whether to grant development consent is expected by 30th October 2026.
Until that decision is made, the Parish Council will continue to monitor developments and represent issues affecting Cliffsend.
What if Sea Link is approved?
Preparing for that possibility does not mean that our position has changed.
If consent is refused, Sea Link cannot proceed in its currently proposed form.
If consent is granted, however, refusing to engage with National Grid would not prevent the project from proceeding.
It could instead mean losing opportunities to influence arrangements which directly affect Cliffsend.
The Parish Council therefore intends to seek clear safeguards and practical commitments for our community if development consent is granted.
Construction traffic and the former hoverport
One of our priorities will be understanding exactly how National Grid intends to access the former hoverport during construction.
The hoverport sits immediately alongside Cliffsend and the relationship between the proposed access and Sandwich Road through the residential village is particularly important.
We want clear construction routes and appropriate restrictions on HGV and contractor traffic.
In particular, we intend to pursue arrangements which prevent inappropriate Sea Link construction and contractor vehicles travelling through residential Cliffsend along Sandwich Road to reach the former hoverport where suitable alternative access arrangements can be provided.
Working hours
Residents need clarity about when construction can normally take place and the circumstances in which work outside those hours would be permitted.
Where exceptional evening, overnight, weekend or early-morning activity is necessary, residents should receive appropriate advance information.
Noise and vibration
Appropriate limits and monitoring arrangements will be important, particularly where activity takes place close to homes.
There also needs to be a straightforward process for residents to report excessive or unexpected noise or vibration and have those concerns investigated.
Dust, mud and road cleanliness
Construction should not result in residents repeatedly dealing with avoidable dust, mud or debris.
Effective arrangements for dust suppression, wheel washing and road cleaning should be in place where required.
Pedestrians, cyclists and local roads
Our roads are part of a residential community.
Construction traffic arrangements need to consider pedestrians and cyclists, residential access, existing traffic conditions and the suitability of the roads being used – not simply whether a vehicle can physically travel along them.
Pegwell Bay and public access
Where reasonably possible, access to Pegwell Bay and local walking routes should be maintained.
If temporary closures or diversions are genuinely necessary, residents should receive clear information and appropriate alternative arrangements should be provided.
Construction lighting
Temporary construction lighting should be designed and managed to minimise unnecessary effects upon nearby homes, the wider landscape and wildlife.
Communication
Residents should not first discover that disruptive work is taking place when machinery arrives.
We want meaningful advance notice of significant works, unusual activity, road impacts or other changes which could affect Cliffsend.
Complaints and escalation
Residents need a straightforward way of reporting a problem and receiving a meaningful response.
Where an issue is not resolved, there should be a clear escalation route rather than residents being passed between different contractors and organisations.
Monitoring commitments
Promises made before construction need to mean something once construction starts.
We therefore want clarity about how National Grid would monitor contractor compliance with agreed traffic routes, working hours and environmental or community safeguards – and what would happen if those requirements were not followed.
Reinstatement
Roads, verges, paths, access points and other land affected by construction should be properly reinstated when works finish.
Our aim is to have these discussions before problems occur, rather than waiting until residents are already being affected.
Community benefit
National Grid has announced that, if Sea Link is approved, it intends to provide a Kent Community Fund of around £1.06 million for communities hosting the new infrastructure.
We want to be completely clear:
Seeking community benefit does not mean Cliffsend Parish Council supports Sea Link.
Our opposition remains.
However, if the project is approved despite those objections, Cliffsend will experience elements of its construction and associated effects.
Refusing to discuss community benefit would not stop the project.
It could simply result in our community missing opportunities available to areas affected by Sea Link.
We therefore believe Cliffsend should be properly recognised as an affected community and receive fair consideration if the project proceeds.
We also believe residents should have a voice in deciding what genuine and lasting community benefit should look like.
We want to hear from Cliffsend residents
The formal opportunity to object through the DCO Examination has now closed.
Our Cliffsend Sea Link Residents' Survey is not another consultation or a vote on whether Sea Link should be approved.
Instead, it is an opportunity for us to use residents' local knowledge and experiences to identify the safeguards, restrictions and commitments we should seek from National Grid if consent is granted.
We want to hear your views about issues including construction traffic, Sandwich Road, hoverport access, working hours, noise, dust, lighting, access to Pegwell Bay, walking routes, communication, current works and community benefit.
If you have already experienced problems associated with National Grid's current surveys or investigation works, you can tell us about those too.
The Parish Council is due to meet with National Grid and residents' responses will help inform those discussions.
If Sea Link is approved, what does National Grid need to do to protect Cliffsend?
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