Pre-examination stage (registration window closed)
Preliminary meeting
The Examining Authority will hold a preliminary meeting at some point after the register to have your say period closes.
Several weeks before this meeting, the rule 6 letter is sent to everyone registered to have their say, official bodies and people whose land is directly affected. The rule 6 letter tells everyone when and where the meeting will be held. It will also include a draft timetable for the examination.
You cannot give your views about the proposed development at this meeting.
You can talk about:
anything that may affect your ability to attend hearings or meet deadlines, for example other local events happening at the same time or issues with travel or working patterns
if there are any suitable local places to hold any hearings that may be required
if there are any groups of people who need a different approach to be able to take part in the process
any other matters relating to the draft examination timetable
What happens next
Meeting notes will be published and a recording on the project section of this website around a week after the preliminary meeting.
The rule 8 letter is sent to everyone who registered, as well as official bodies and people whose land is directly affected. This letter gives details of the examination including the finalised timetable with all deadlines for examination comments.
Examination Stage
Duration: Up to 6 months (statutory maximum)
Description: The Examining Authority conducts a detailed assessment of the proposal, evaluating its alignment with national policy, balancing impacts against benefits, and considering representations from interested parties. This stage includes written submissions, public hearings, and potential site inspections.
Public Involvement: Registered interested parties may submit detailed written representations, attend hearings, and respond to inquiries from the Examining Authority. This represents the primary opportunity for public influence on the outcome.
Outcome: Upon conclusion, the Examining Authority prepares a recommendation report for the Secretary of State. Note: Accelerated timelines (e.g., 4 months) are under pilot for some NSIPs, though Sea Link’s inclusion remains unconfirmed.
Recommendation Stage
Duration: 3 months (statutory period)
Description: The Examining Authority finalizes its report and submits a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero within three months of the examination’s conclusion.
Public Involvement: No further submissions are permitted, and the recommendation report remains confidential during this period.
Decision Stage
Duration: 3 months (statutory period)
Description: The Examining Authority finalizes its report and submits a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero within three months of the examination’s conclusion.
Public Involvement: No further submissions are permitted, and the recommendation report remains confidential during this period.
Post-Decision Stage
Duration: 3 months (statutory period)
Description: The Examining Authority finalizes its report and submits a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero within three months of the examination’s conclusion.
Public Involvement: No further submissions are permitted, and the recommendation report remains confidential during this period.
Acceptance Stage
Duration: 28 days
Upon receipt of the application on (estimated) March 15, 2025, the Planning Inspectorate has 28 calendar days to review its completeness and compliance with legal and procedural standards (e.g., adequacy of consultation, sufficiency of documentation). This assessment focuses solely on procedural validity, not the project’s merits.
Public Involvement: No formal public access to documents or opportunity for comment is available at this stage. The Inspectorate may update its project webpage to confirm receipt of the application.
Outcome: If accepted, the application proceeds to the Pre-Examination Stage. If deemed incomplete, National Grid must revise and resubmit, potentially delaying the process by several weeks or months.