Eastern Green Link 4

In 2025 National Grid confirmed (within EGL5’s stage 1 proposals) the removal of the previously proposed three‑ended connection in the Bilsby area, which included the planned converter station, direct current switching station and associated HVDC and HVAC underground cables linked to Eastern Green Link 3 and Eastern Green Link 4. The decision removed those proposed assets and associated underground cables from the Bilsby proposals and they would not be progressed in that location.

National Grid stated that pre-installation survey work for the offshore cable would include specific checks for unexploded ordnance (UXO); UXO surveys were planned as part of the pre-lay survey and preparatory survey programme to identify and mitigate explosive hazards prior to subsea cable installation (scheduled to occur before construction).

Ofgem approved early construction and pre-construction funding for Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) under its Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) programme on 9 December 2025. The regulator granted EGL4 13% of updated project costs as Early Construction Funding (ECF) and 2.5% as Pre-Construction Funding (PCF), enabling enabling works such as land purchases, surveys, design and procurement for the subsea HVDC link and converter stations. Ofgem also set updated target delivery dates (EGL3/EGL4 to August 2034) and established incentives for earlier delivery and penalties for delay. The decision allows the transmission owners to recover efficient ECF/PCF expenditure through allowed revenues but does not itself grant planning consent.

Prysmian Group announced that it had been named the preferred bidder to supply the HVDC subsea and underground cable system for the Eastern Green Link 4 project. The preferred-bidder selection covered the long-distance HVDC cable system (reported at ~646 km) that will form the 2 GW link between Scotland and England. The announcement positioned Prysmian to enter contract negotiations with the joint project owners; it was presented as a preferred-bidder outcome ahead of any final contract award or regulatory approvals and therefore contingent on project progression.

SP Energy Networks held a final feedback event for Eastern Green Link 4 on 7 August 2025 at Kinghorn Community Centre as the last public engagement prior to submitting consent applications. National Grid stated that the English elements of EGL4 would be progressed by applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate and that SP Energy Networks (for Scotland) and NGET (for English elements coordination) would finalise proposals and prepare the application following consultation. The event and subsequent application preparation represented the project’s immediate next regulatory steps toward consenting.

SP Energy Networks and National Grid announced on 17 July 2025 that Siemens Energy had been selected as preferred bidder to deliver the two HVDC converter stations for the Eastern Green Link 4 project. The preferred-bidder decision followed an extensive competitive procurement process and represented a key delivery milestone ahead of full contract award; it did not constitute final contract award nor prejudice the project’s forthcoming Development Consent Order applications. Siemens' selection was positioned as a critical step to progress procurement and technical preparations for the 2GW subsea HVDC link.

On 17 July 2025 National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks signed a joint venture to deliver Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4). The JV formalised the two transmission owners’ partnership to develop, procure and deliver the proposed 2GW HVDC subsea link between Fife (Kinghorn) and West Norfolk (Walpole), and to progress associated planning and consenting activity in Scotland and England. The announcement accompanied the selection of Siemens Energy as preferred bidder for the two HVDC converter stations. Construction was expected to begin in 2029 with operation targeted for 2033.

SP Energy Networks ran a second (statutory/final) round of public consultation for Eastern Green Link 4 starting 12 May 2025 (running to 6 June 2025). The consultation published updated routeing and environmental constraint documents, a Marine Route Options Appraisal non-technical summary and onshore scheme details to seek feedback on refined siting and routing choices ahead of application preparation.

By the publication of the PEIR Non-Technical Summary (22 April 2025) marine geophysical data acquired for Eastern Green Link 4 had been assessed and interpreted by marine archaeological and technical specialists; the assessment identified multiple anomalies (including wreck-related and magnetic anomalies) which informed archaeology and routeing mitigation measures.

National Grid awarded HVDC supply-chain framework contracts that placed multiple cable and converter suppliers on multi-year frameworks intended to support delivery of major projects, explicitly including early projects such as Eastern Green Link 4. The framework appointed six HVDC cable suppliers and four converter-system suppliers, creating procurement pathways and greater supply-chain visibility for EGL4 delivery. The framework award was positioned as preparatory commercial activity to accelerate large HVDC programme delivery rather than a project-specific contract award.

An initial onshore geological walkover for the project was undertaken between 19 and 22 November 2024. Surveyors completed fieldinspection observations to ground-truth desk-based geology and hydrogeology information along the proposed onshore corridor to inform subsequent ground investigation planning.

The GEOxyz-led marine survey campaign for Eastern Green Link 4 was scheduled to complete in late August 2024; the campaign provided geophysical datasets used for seabed assessment and subsequent interpretation reported in the project environmental documentation.

The GEOxyz geotechnical campaign for Eastern Green Link 4 was scheduled to finish in late August 2024; results from the campaign were used to inform on cable burial requirements and onshore/offshore installation methodologies.

GEOxyz mobilised to carry out marine environmental (geophysical) surveys for Eastern Green Link 4 using the survey vessels Geo Ocean III and Geo Ocean IX; work was scheduled to commence in early June 2024 to gather seabed and route condition data required for routeing and environmental assessment.

GEOxyz scheduled geotechnical investigations for Eastern Green Link 4 to start in early June 2024 using the Geo Ocean III and Geo Ocean IX; the scope included marine geotechnical works required to inform cable burial and installation design (campaign mobilisation and site investigation works).

National Grid published emerging preferences for Eastern Green Link 4 during a non-statutory public consultation that opened on 23 April 2024 (running to 15 July 2024). The consultation presented preferred landfall options (Theddlethorpe or Anderby Creek), candidate locations for converter stations (including a Lincolnshire option northeast of Bilsby) and indicative onshore cable corridors; these emerging preferences were used to inform further routeing and environmental assessment.

National Grid Electricity Transmission submitted a formal request to the Secretary of State (under Section 35 of the Planning Act 2008) asking that Eastern Green Link Projects (EGL3 & EGL4) be directed to be treated as development for which development consent is required. The request set out the proposed development scope, justification for national significance and indicated an intention that a single DCO would be sought to cover EGL3 and EGL4.

Marine Scotland granted European Protected Species and Basking Shark licences to SP Transmission PLC to permit geophysical and geotechnical surveys for Eastern Greenlink 4. The licences (EPS and Basking Shark) commenced on 2023-09-13 and allowed survey work within defined time-limited windows to inform environmental assessment and routeing.

SP Transmission PLC (developer partner for Eastern Green Link 4) submitted applications to Marine Scotland for European Protected Species and Basking Shark licences to enable geophysical and geotechnical survey activity for Eastern Greenlink 4. The applications sought consent to undertake survey works in Scottish waters as part of the project’s early environmental and technical investigations.