PLANNING
Wrap.
The public examination has closed. Deadline 7 is done. Thousands of pages of evidence, hundreds of representations, and months of hearings are now in the hands of the Inspectors. The case has been made. Thank you everyone.
All Submissions & Documents
Every representation, report, technical document and Inspector's question submitted throughout the examination is publicly available on the Planning Inspectorate project page.
What Happens Next
Inspector's Report Submitted
The Examining Authority has submitted their recommendation report to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. The report summarises all evidence heard during the examination and gives a clear recommendation on whether the Development Consent Order (DCO) should be granted or refused.
The report is not made public until the final decision is announced — so its contents remain unknown until then.
Secretary of State Makes Final Decision
The Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, reviews the Inspectors' report and all the evidence from the examination, then makes the final decision on whether to grant or refuse the Development Consent Order for the National Grid Sea Link project.
The decision will be published together with a full explanation of the reasons. This is the final government decision on the project.
Once the decision is published, there is a 6-week window during which anyone can apply for a judicial review in the High Court.
Search All Examination Documents
Search National Grid's official documents or public and organisation representations from across the entire examination. Results link directly to PDFs on the Planning Inspectorate site.