Xlinks 1 Limited has formally notified the Secretary of State, of its intention to submit an Environmental Statement.

The Proposed Development comprises a subsea electrical cable to be installed from the boundary of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to a proposed landfall site at Cornborough Range in Devon, UK. The subsea cable comprises approximately 370km of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables in two bundled pairs. From the landfall, the cable is routed onshore for approximately 14km to two converter stations on land to the west of Alverdiscott 400kV substation. The converter stations would be connected to Alverdiscott 400kV substation by High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) cables. A replacement 400kV Substation at Alverdiscott may be included in the Proposed Development; this is to be confirmed.

Information about the Proposed Development and about its likely significant effects is available in the scoping report and the Secretary of State’s scoping opinion which are available electronically on the Planning Inspectorate’s website:

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010164

Based on the current information provided by the Applicant to the Secretary of State, and applying a precautionary approach, the Secretary of State is of the view that the Proposed Development is likely to have significant effects on the environment in France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In accordance with Regulation 32 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (EIA Regulations) the Secretary of State has provided information to the above mentioned EEA States about the Proposed Development and its likely significant effects, and these States have been asked to indicate by 24 September 2024 whether or not they wish to participate in the procedure for examining and determining the application under the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) and Regulation 32 of the EIA Regulations.

The Proposed Development is currently at the pre-application stage of the process. The Applicant has not yet submitted an application to the Secretary of State. If the application is accepted for examination, the application will be examined in public and subject to the provisions of the PA 2008, the examination must be completed within a period of six months. Further information about how to participate in the examination procedure under the PA 2008 and the way in which the Secretary of State will notify and consult EEA States in accordance with Regulation 32 of the EIA Regulations is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/.

Following examination of the application and having taken the environmental information into consideration, the decision maker may refuse or grant development consent. If development consent is granted, this may be subject to requirements which, if necessary, will secure measures to avoid, reduce or offset the major adverse effects of the Proposed Development.

Signed by the Planning Inspectorate for and on behalf of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities