National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), part of the National Grid Group, is proposing enhancements to the electricity network with its Eastern Green Links 3 and 4 (EGL 3 and 4) proposals. These schemes propose two new primarily offshore high voltage electricity links, with converter stations and associated onshore infrastructure between Scotland and England.
In England, the proposed onshore elements of EGL 3 and 4 would be in the districts of East Lindsey, Boston, and South Holland, in Lincolnshire, and the district of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, in Norfolk. NGET have confirmed that, following evaluation of their cable routeing options which they presented previously, they are progressing with the option which passes through Cambridgeshire, making Cambridgeshire County Council a host authority for the scheme.
Latest news
On Thursday 9 April 2026 NGET launched a targeted Statutory Consultation for the English onshore elements of the proposed EGL 3 and 4 projects and Route Section 7: Walpole B Substation (“Route Section 7”) of the Grimsby to Walpole project. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on Monday 11 May 2026.
The EGL 3 and 4 projects and the Grimsby to Walpole project are being consented separately. There is, however, some infrastructure which is being included within the consents for both projects. This includes the new Walpole B Substation and associated infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and additional land required to build the projects. To streamline engagement with consultees, this targeted statutory consultation is being held jointly by both projects for these common areas in the Walpole area.
As part of this targeted statutory consultation, NGET are also consulting on some additional areas for the EGL3 and EGL 4 projects which are not in the Walpole area and do not overlap with the scope of the Grimsby to Walpole project.
Consultation documents can be viewed online via the document libraries of the EGL 3 and 4 project website and of the Grimsby to Walpole project website.
Overview
The scheme will be determined by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This project is part of the Great Grid Upgrade.
Responsibility for accepting and examining the NSIP application rests with the Secretary of State and not the local authorities, who are identified as statutory consultees, or ‘host’ authorities, in the NSIP process.
Due to NGET’s proposed routeing option decisions, Cambridgeshire County Council is one of 8 host authorities involved in this NSIP project. The other host authorities are:
- Fenland District Council
- Lincolnshire County Council
- East Lindsey District Council
- Boston Borough Council
- South Holland District Council
- Norfolk County Council
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council
Have your say
It is important to note that as the ‘host’ planning authorities are not the determining authorities, any correspondence in relation to this matter needs to be directed to NGET in the first instance and then the Planning Inspectorate.
For further details of the NSIP process for this project, please visit the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) website.
Details of the proposal for the EGL 3&4 schemes, including any consultation events being held, are available on NGET's website for this project.
Consultation
Statutory Consultation launched on 13 May 2025 and ran until 23 June 2025.
NGET have identified the need for additional land take since undertaking their statutory consultation in Summer 2025, and so are undertaking an additional targeted additional consultation. The consultation is running from Thursday 9 April 2026 until Monday 11 May 2026. The documents can be viewed online via the document libraries of the EGL 3 and EGL 4 project website and of the Grimsby to Walpole Project website.
More information can also be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s webpage for this project.
