Public Consultation

On 7 April 2026, the Planning Inspectorate received an application for a Scoping Opinion from Tarchon Energy Limited under regulation 10 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 for the Tarchon Interconnector Project (case reference EN0210009). The submission, comprising a six-volume Scoping Report (Volumes 1 to 5 in Part 1 and Volume 6 of annexes in Part 2), opened the formal EIA scoping consultation period: under regulation 10(6) the Inspectorate is required to consult the prescribed consultation bodies before adopting a Scoping Opinion on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Scoping Report covers the English Onshore Scheme (EOS) and the UK Marine Scheme (UKMS) — together the UK elements of the proposed GB–Germany HVDC interconnector — and seeks a Scoping Opinion to define the matters the Environmental Statement accompanying the Development Consent Order application must address. Consultation responses from statutory consultees including Essex County Council, Tendring District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Harwich Haven Authority were submitted within the statutory window. Submission of the Scoping Report formally moved the project into the regulated pre-application EIA scoping stage under the Planning Act 2008 / EIA Regulations 2017 framework, ahead of statutory consultation and the planned November 2027 DCO application.