Public Consultation

On 13 May 2026, the Planning Inspectorate adopted the Scoping Opinion for the Tarchon Interconnector Project on behalf of the Secretary of State pursuant to regulation 10 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, closing the EIA scoping consultation period opened on 7 April 2026. The Scoping Opinion sets out the matters the Environmental Statement accompanying the forthcoming Development Consent Order application must address, organised across onshore environmental aspects (ground conditions, water environment, biodiversity, archaeology, traffic), offshore environmental aspects (marine physical environment, benthic ecology, fish and shellfish, marine mammals, commercial fisheries, shipping and navigation), and UK scheme-wide aspects (landscape and visual, noise, ornithology, socio-economics, carbon and climate). The Inspectorate consulted statutory bodies including Essex County Council, Tendring District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Harwich Haven Authority under regulation 10(6) before adoption. Two late consultation responses (Harwich Haven Authority on offshore matters and Natural England on onshore ornithology) were accepted on the day of adoption. The Opinion confirms the project as EIA development under regulation 6(2)(a) and notes the applicant's intention to provide an Environmental Statement under regulation 8(1)(b), keeping Tarchon on track for the planned November 2027 DCO application.