Underground cable route
The proposed cable route is 27.8km long and we propose to lay the cable underground for the whole route, to avoid the long-term visual impacts from an overhead connection.
Below is a map showing the overall cable route, a detailed description of each of the eight sections along the route. Click on the link to the right to download the relevant section map.
OS map of proposed underground cable route (PDF, size 6.5MB)
Section 1
At the preferred landfall location, the proposed cable would be drilled under the beach, the sea defences and underneath the A259 between East Worthing and Lancing, before continuing under parts of the Brooklands Pleasure Park, Pitch and Putt, and Par 3 Golf Course. The route passes close to the Southern Water works before crossing into open space. It generally runs alongside the route of the new cycle path, until it passes under an overgrown former landfill site.
Sections 2, 3 and 4
From here, the cable would be drilled under the railway and head north through open land towards the A27 Sompting Bypass where another drilled section will be installed under this major road. At this point, the cable route enters the South Downs National Park and then heads generally north east, avoiding the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) site at Steep Down. It then heads directly east to cross the River Adur, south of the disused cement works.
Section 5
The route gradually ascends towards Beeding Hill. Beyond this point is the most constrained part of the route, particularly at Tottington Mount where the route crosses the hilltop before taking a U-shaped course to maintain workable slope inclines. There is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) here, a Bronze Age Cross Dyke, which the cable can not avoid due to slopes on either side. We held a meeting on site with English Heritage to discuss a suitable methodology to limit the impact and agree further investigations to understand more about this feature. The route then descends from the South Downs into the open plain to the north and towards the Low Weald.
Sections 6 and 7
The route passes through generally open farmland, avoiding a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) and ancient woodland near Small Dole. The proposed route crosses the A281 at a point between Henfield to the west and Woodmancote to the east. It then heads north, passing to the west of Blackstone before reaching the B2116.
Section 8
The cable route then heads directly north, keeping around the same distance from Wineham in the west and Twineham to the east, before crossing under Bob Lane and then reaching land next to Bolney Substation. At that point, it will connect into a new dedicated substation, supplying electricity into the National Grid.
