On behalf of East Suffolk Council’s Cabinet member for Energy and Climate Change and the Energy Projects Team, please see below an overview of this month’s core energy project updates:
Sea Link – National Grid Electricity Transmission
The formal 6-month Examination period started on 5th November, beginning with the preliminary meeting. The Examination is the statutory period during which an independent panel of inspectors, known as the Examining Authority, scrutinises the application before making a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, who will make the final decision. The first Open Floor Hearings for Suffolk were held on 5th and 6th November at Snape Maltings. Issue Specific Hearing 1 was held virtually on 11th November and focussed on the ‘Scope of the Development’.
ESC previously submitted a Relevant Representation and Local Impact Report at the start of the examination. We also responded to a change request on 7th November. Of the 5 proposed changes across the project, the changes relevant to Suffolk include firstly a change to works plans at Friston substation to better reflect the order limits for the ScottishPower Renewables East Anglia One North and Two projects, secondly an adjustment to the order limits to avoid the discovery of potentially significant archaeology near Friston, thirdly an increase to the order limits around the Benhall railway bridge to increase flexibility in the transport strategy for large equipment movements, and lastly an increase in order limits for maintenance of the ditch and hedgerow to the south of the B1119, near Saxmundham. ESC will continue to engage with all stages of the DCO examination process on behalf of elected members who represent the host and neighbouring town and parish councils.
The next round of hearings will be held w/c 26th January 2026 with issue specific hearings being hosted in London. ESC (together with other stakeholders) have expressed disappointment at this decision as we strongly believe that Suffolk matters should be examined in Suffolk and not London, as this disadvantages local people and ESC officers.
Up to date Sea Link project information is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website Sea Link - Project information
The Rule 8 letter which contains the forecast examination timetable set can be found here
Sizewell C – SZC Co
Now in the second year of construction, works are progressing across all sites. At the beach and harbour area, sheet piles are being installed for the northern section of the temporary sea defence. Preparatory works on the marine bulk import facility (jetty) continue, and will involve some closures and diversions of the right of way along the beach through early 2026. Works at both Park and Rides (Northern at Darsham, and Southern at Wickham Market) continue. Phased operation of the Northern Park at Ride commenced in November 2025, and will be followed by phased operation of the Southern Park and Ride planned for late 2025/early 2026. Construction of the Abnormal Indivisible Load (AIL) layby adjacent to the Southern Park and Ride should be complete by mid-December, and will enable police escorting of large loads to site. Traffic management on the A12 for the construction of the AIL layby was removed on 5 December. Works at Yoxford Roundabout remain on track to open in spring next year. Vegetation and ecology surveys have been completed allowing for utility diversions to take place, and earth movements are also ongoing. The rail programme progresses at pace. Preparatory works started in the autumn for of the railheads at the Ancillary Construction Area and Temporary Construction Area. Upgrades to the East Suffolk Line and Leiston Branch Line are ongoing.
Final Investment Decision was reached for Sizewell C in July: https://www.sizewellc.com/news-views/final-investment-decision-reached-for-sizewell-c-the-biggest-british-clean-energy-project-in-a-generation/ . Following FID, Sizewell C reached Financial Close in November. Following the successful conclusion of the equity raise and Sizewell C’s Final Investment Decision in July 2025, the company confirmed the £5 billion of debt raised through the BpifranceAE export credit facility as well as a £500 million Working Capital Facility, both sitting alongside the National Wealth Fund’s term loan. Sizewell C is the first nuclear power project to be financed using the UK’s Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. The RAB model has previously been used for other infrastructure projects like Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
In December 2025, Sizewell C announced the appointment of Nigel Cann as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026, as focus shifts to the main construction phase of the power station. The press release stated she was stepping down as her job had been to get the project approved, funded, and ready for main construction, and now she steps down and Nigel Cann will take over as Chief Executive Officer, and oversee the construction period.
Discharges for Sizewell C are ongoing. All discharges are on Public Access and can be found here: Requirement discharge information and applications » East Suffolk Council
Current discharge applications:
- DC/24/4508/DRR – Requirement 39 – Rail Noise Mitigation Plan
- DC/25/3905/DRR42 – Requirement 18 – Discharge of Requirement 18 (Sports Facilities: Reserved matters) - Alde Valley Academy (Work No. 5) of the Sizewell C Development Consent OrderDC/25/4267/DRR42 – Requirement 13 – LEEIE Integrated Reinforcement Yard and Marine Tunnelling Segment Storage Yard
- DC/25/4674/CON - Deemed Marine Licence ("DML") Condition Coastal Processes Monitoring and Mitigation Plan monitoring reports - DML condition 14(3). Monitoring reports
- DC/24/4661/DRR28 - Bespoke Mitigation Plan (Noise and Vibration) Yoxford Roundabout (AD BMP 13), secured by the Noise Monitoring and Management Plan under Requirement 2 (Code of Construction Practice) of the Sizewell C Development Consent Order
- DC/25/4447/DRR28 - Bespoke Mitigation Plan (Noise and Vibration) Main Development Site (MDS) Road Works (MDS BMP 5 Rev 3), secured by the Noise Monitoring and Management Plan under Requirement 2 (Code of Construction Practice) of the Sizewell C Development Consent Order
- DC/25/4702/DRR28 - Sizewell C Deed of Obligation, Noise Mitigation Scheme - Schedule 12 Annex W: Junction at Saxmundham Refreshed Noise Assessment
- DC/25/4388/DRR - Requirement 21 (Main Development Site: Sizewell Marshes SSSI Method Statement) of the Sizewell C Development Consent Order
- DC/25/4216/DRR - Discharge of Requirement 5 (Project Wide: Surface and Foul Water Drainage) – Various Main Development Site Works, Phase 9
- DC/25/4721/DRR42 - Requirement 31 (Rail infrastructure) - Green Rail Route of the Sizewell C Development Consent Order
ESC is also considering two planning applications related to the Sizewell C project:
- DC/25/4432/FUL – College on the Coast (full application for college and apprentice hub, outline application for Construction Skills Centre and flexible external training space)
- DC/25/3078/FUL - Pakefield Holiday Village – Use of land for 340 touring caravan pitches, a bus pick-up/ drop-off area with parking area, associated landscaping, access road, drainage, amenity buildings and other associated infrastructure
The project has an online works tracker providing real time updates on works across all project sites, and the option to subscribe for parish or site specific works updates - Sizewell C Works Tracker - Track SZC Projects & Get Alerts for New Activities
ESC recently attended the Northern and Southern Transport Forums. The next forum will be the Main Development Site Forum to be held on 14 January 2026. Further information can be found here: Community Forums - Sizewell C
Presentation slides, agendas, and forum minutes can be found here: Governance groups » East Suffolk Council
Presentation slides, agendas, and forum minutes can be found here: Governance groups » East Suffolk Council
LionLink Multi-Purpose Interconnector – National Grid Ventures
The project remains in the pre-application phase, with statutory consultation planned to commence mid-January 2026 for a period of 8 weeks. This provides local communities an opportunity to directly shape the project before it is submitted for examination. The statutory consultation will include the publication of the preliminary environmental information report (PEIR). Statutory consultation is currently a legal requirement in the pre-application process and allows statutory consultees to provide their expert advice and concerns regarding the project, which helps shape the application before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The PEIR is a key document that provides an early, preliminary assessment of the likely significant environmental impacts of the proposed project, as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. East Suffolk Council will be looking to host a meeting for potentially affected Town and Parish representatives in the early stages of the consultation so to hear and discuss local concerns. More details on the proposed date/time of this meeting at East Suffolk House, Melton will be made available in the new year.
The Planning Inspectorate’s project page can be found here.
DCO submission to PINS expected in late 2026 LionLink About | National Grid Group
ScottishPower Renewables (SPR)
The East Anglia TWO and East Anglia ONE North offshore wind farm projects are progressing with the discharge of requirements attached to the DCO consents. At present, ESC is discharging the requirements associated with the onshore cable stage of works between the landfall located to the north of Thorpeness and Snape Road to the east of Friston, as well as the requirement discharges for the substation civil works at Friston. The discharge process for these onshore works will conclude between December and February 2026. More details on the projects can be found here.
Norwich to Tilbury (NGET)
The Norwich to Tilbury project is currently in the pre-examination stage with examination expected to fully commence Q1 2026. A draft timetable is expected from PINS in the coming weeks which will provide more certainty regarding hearing dates and submission deadlines. ESC are not a host authority for the proposed Norwich to Tilbury project, this is entirely out of district. However, while we defer to the host authorities, we have registered as an interested party to enable ESC to engage in the examination process if needed. More details can be found on the PINS website here.
Other Consultations / News
The Energy Projects Team continues to engage with central government on energy infrastructure planning, informed by its extensive experience of the Development Consent Order regime, and has recently responded to two national consultations.
Consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government on streamlining infrastructure planning closed on 27 October. The consultation sought views on changes to guidance and secondary legislation under the Planning Act 2008 to streamline the infrastructure planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and reduce timescales for consenting. A key element of consultation was new guidance about consultation and engagement, following removal of statutory pre-application consultation requirements through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The Head of Energy Planning and Coastal Management responded, highlighting the value of pre-application in positively shaping proposals, and providing local communities with a valuable opportunity to provide their views on the development proposals. ESC highlighted the importance of this engagement to promoters, helping to increase their understanding of the local context, challenges, and opportunities for projects, whilst building community relationships and trust. ESC raised concerns regarding the Planning and Infrastructure Bill’s proposals to remove the statutory requirement for NSIP promoters to carry out consultation.
ESC also responded to the transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP) Consultation, from the National Energy System Operator. The consultation sought stakeholder input for the first phase of a new regional energy planning approach. The goal is to create a strategic plan for energy infrastructure development in Scotland, Wales, and nine English regions to better align network investments with local and national net zero ambitions. Following this, ESC officers are also currently engaging in a further RESP consultation which poses additional questions related to the initiative. More details can be found here.
The Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) recently hosted online webinars to help local communities learn more about DCO engagement and how best to get their voices heard. In parallel to this, funding has been secured to appoint a dedicated engagement officer working across Suffolk (3 year part-time appointment). Once appointed, the new role will help local communities in their engagement amongst other associated initiatives. SALC Website.