Planning
HOVERPORT
We are sorry to say the hoverport has now been included within the order limits. The reason for taking this additional area is to avoid vehicles driving on the salt marsh habitat and use the hoverport instead, however the salt marsh has not been removed from the order limits and there are no guarantees this will be the case.
Local residents impacted should have received a notification.
National Grid are asking for feedback on this additional land via the following:
“All feedback on our proposed changes to the Sea Link development consent order application is welcomed. If you would like to share feedback on the proposed changes you can do so in the following ways:
âš« Email us: contact@sealink.nationalgrid.com
⚫ Write to us: FREEPOST Sea Link “
please send in your feedback by November 7th 2025.
Links to the National Grid Hoverport documents (some of these also include Suffolk information and their changes):
Change Application Consultation Document October 2025
This is a 2 year old video of the hoverport but it shows why this area is so important.
KENT DATES Open floor Hearings
Discovery Park Vistors Centre, Innovation House, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF or Online
(Dates following 11th November will only be used if more time is required due to numbers registering.)
Tuesday 11 November 2025 - 1:30pm
Tuesday 11 November 2025 - 5pm
Wednesday 12 November 2025 - 9:30am
The hearings can be watched online live from this link
what happens next?
Now we are about to move into the Examination phase for the Sea Link project, there is a strict timetable.
We will help you every step of the way. We want as many people as possible to get involved and have their say. This is your right. You do not have to speak – but it would be great if you can. If you would prefer, you can send your words to us, and we can read them out for you. You can also send in a written submission and must summarise your words later if you speak. Refer to our Guidance document for information about completing the Event Participation Form.
This is what we understand the timetable will mean to you. All deadlines are 23.59pm unless stated otherwise.
05 November
Preliminary meeting
This is a meeting to discuss the process ONLY. This is a short (2 hour) online meeting for the whole Sea Link project. We will be bringing up issues that we think affect how fair the process is. If you have a view on this let us know or raise it yourself.
EA will publish agreed timetable for the rest of the process – dates may change
SMM will submit that the timetable is discriminatory for many participants and is too short now that there are further changes to the project submitted by NG.
11 November
Issue Specific Hearing 1 - on the Scope of project from 10:00
We believe that this will include a robust discussion of the Needs Case, which we dispute, the lack of alternative landfall locations considered for Kent, and lack of cumulative impact assessment for Kent amongst other issues.
11 to 12 November
Open Floor Hearings (OFH) From 14:00 on 11 November
These will be held at Discovery Park, Sandwich and available for remote participation on Microsoft Teams. This is when you can tell the Inspectors about the impacts of the project on you personally and the environment – or we can read your statement. Please read our guide if you would like us to read your statement on your behalf. You can select which sessions you want to attend in person or remotely.
You will have between 3 and 5 minutes to say what you want
18 November
Deadline 1
1) This is the deadline for Written Representations. If your Written Representation is longer than 1500 words, you must also include a summary alongside your submission.
2) You can also comment on any of the Relevant Representations made by others if you wish.
3) Request to attend further Open Floor Hearings if they are scheduled.
4) Deadline for suggested locations for site inspections (Accompanied or Unaccompanied), including justification, for consideration by the EA.
5) Requests by affected persons (defined in section 59(4) of the Planning Act 2008) to be heard at a compulsory acquisition hearing (CAH). This is people who have businesses or homes within the Draft Order Limit extents.
26 November
Deadline 1A
Send summaries of your Open Floor Hearing words to the EA.
9 December
Deadline 2
Provide comments on written representations and Summaries of the Open Floor Hearing speeches.
17 December
EXQ1 – publication of Examiners’ written questions
Written Representation (WR) Guidance
Deadline: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
As an Interested Party, your Written Representation (WR) is a key written submission to the Examining Authority (ExA).
It allows you to provide your evidence and views on the application under the Planning Act 2008.
What It Should Include:
Focus on evidence and views that are relevant to the application and your interests. The ExA emphasizes that submissions should be "timely, full, frank, clear and evidenced answers to every question that is relevant to their interests."
This means including factual support (e.g., data, references to application documents) rather than unsubstantiated opinions. There is no prescribed structure, but it should address principal issues raised in your earlier Relevant Representation or new matters arising.
No Repetition in Later Stages: If you participate in hearings, your oral submissions should not repeat the WR but provide specific details or explanations.
Comments on Others' Submissions: At this stage (Deadline 1), you submit your own WR. However, you can comment on other parties' Written Representations in subsequent deadlines (e.g., Deadline 2 on 9 December 2025).
Word Limits and Format: Up to 1,500 words. If your WR exceeds this, include a concise summary not exceeding 10% of the original text's length (e.g., 200 words for a 2,000-word submission).
Submit electronically via the project's 'Have your say' page on the webpage.
Files must be clearly labelled, no larger than 50 MB, and must not include hyperlinks to external sites. All content becomes part of the public record unless marked as commercially sensitive (apply via the Case Team for redaction).
After Submission: Your WR will inform the ExA's questions and the examination timetable.
Accompanied Site Inspections (ASIs)
Purpose and How They Work: ASIs involve the ExA being guided around sites by the applicant (National Grid) and invited Interested Parties (IPs) to observe specific features, such as landscape impacts, access points, or mitigation measures. Unlike hearings, these are not forums for debate, oral submissions, or cross-examination—participation is limited to pointing out relevant elements during stops along a pre-planned itinerary. The applicant drafts the itinerary (covering key issues from representations), which the ExA reviews and finalizes. The itinerary is published at least 5 working days in advance, and the event is recorded for transparency.
When and Where: Not yet scheduled, but reserved for the week commencing 2 February 2026 (exact dates TBC if deemed necessary). Sites are selected based on relevance, accessibility (preferring public land), and submissions from IPs. The ExA decides if an ASI is needed after reviewing written evidence and hearings.
Your Role as an Interested Party:
Suggest Sites: Submit proposals by Procedural Deadline A (8 October 2025) via the 'Have your say' page. Include: precise location (e.g., grid references), what to observe (e.g., visual impacts), access details, and justification tied to your interests.
Comment on Itinerary: Review and provide feedback on the applicant's draft by Deadline 2 (9 December 2025).
Register to Attend: If an ASI is confirmed, notify your interest by Deadline 3 (7 January 2026).
ofgem Consultation
Before planning has been granted for Sea Link, OFGEM are proposing to advance funds to National Grid Plc to speed through the following works:
1) Early construction activities.
2) Compulsory purchase of land.
3) Enabling works such as reconductoring the newly built line from Richborough to Canterbury (this line is not included in the Sea Link DCO or within order limits for project).
4) Early procurement commitments (buying cables etc).
5) Other activities approved in advance by Ofgem (not disclosed).
The funding request is for 48% of the total projected project cost, higher than the usual 20% cap for advancing projects without planning permission.
RESPONSE TO PLANNING INSPECTORATE
A very big thank you for all the hours of hard work reading through the 412 documents and formulating a response. It should not have been made this difficult.
Below are the responses from: Save Minster Marshes, CPRE, IUCN and KWT.
DATABASE
Discover our structured Airtable database below, tailored for searching of all National Grid Sea Link submission documents to the Planning Inspectorate, with searchable tags.
Submit your document reviews via the "Add Review" tab. We will then include this in our final submission to the planning inspectorate.
Watch the video guide below for a step-by-step tutorial on navigating the database