County Durham
Overview of planned onshore works:
10 km of underground onshore cables will run from the landfall point just north of Seaham, to a new converter station and substation at Hawthorn Pit, County Durham, between the villages of Murton and South Hetton.
- The construction of a new converter station and new substation next to our existing site at Hawthorn Pit (between Murton and South Hetton)
- The installation of underground cables to connect the new converter station and the new substation
- Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) activities from land to sea
- The installation of underground cables connecting the converter station with the landfall point just north of Seaham
- Temporary works, such as site welfare compounds and access roads to facilitate the construction and installation of the above
Piling works at Hawthorn Pit – July 2026 update
Piling at our Murton converter station site is now complete.
We have made good progress at the new Hawthorn Pit substation site. However, piling has taken longer than planned due to a delay at the start of works and issues with specialist equipment.
These works are now expected to be completed by mid-August.
We recognise that piling can be disruptive for nearby residents and appreciate the community's continued patience while this work is completed.
We are sorry for any inconvenience and will continue to work closely with our delivery partner to reduce disruption during the remaining weeks of piling.
Piling is a construction method used to create strong foundations for large structures such as converter stations and substations. It involves installing long steel or concrete piles deep into the ground to provide the stability and support needed for heavy equipment and buildings.
If you have any questions or concerns about this work, get in touch with the EGL1 Community Relations Team:
Email: contact@easterngreenlink1.co.uk
Freephone: 0808 196 8405 (line open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday).