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
National Grid proposes to reinforce the electricity network between Suffolk and Kent via a new 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between a proposed substation near Friston in Suffolk and the existing Richborough to Canterbury 400kV overhead line in Kent. Sea Link is in the formal 6-month examination phase with the Planning Inspectorate, having 2 months left closing on 5th May. ESC officers continue to engage with the examination, reviewing submitted materials, preparing responses, engaging with local community representatives and making submissions.
Deadline 5 of the examination is 10th March 2026 and includes responses to the second round of questions from the Examining Authority and updated versions of the principal areas of disagreement summary statements (PADSS). ESC has also been updating the draft Statement of Common Ground with NGET for Deadline 5 and reviewing and responding on Deadline 4 submissions. Officers continue to engage with the Examination, making submissions at deadlines and attending and making representations at hearings. Outside of this, officers continue to engage with the applicant and stakeholders.
The Planning Inspectorate has now published the Rule 13 notice of hearings for the end of March (24th to 27th) https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN020026-002758-SeaLink Rule 13 March Hearings.pdf
Once the examination closes, there will be a 3-month period for the Planning Inspectorate’s Examining Authority to make a recommendation on the project, and a further 3-month period for the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to decide whether to grant development consent or not. If consented, as with all DCOs, there will be a 6 week window of time for any legal challenges to be lodged regarding the decision.
- 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 revised examination timetable (Annex A) can be found here
LionLink Multi-Purpose Interconnector – National Grid Ventures
LionLink is a new subsea electricity cable (known as an interconnector) proposed to run between Great Britain and the Netherlands. The project is being developed by National Grid Ventures (NGV) and Dutch partner, TenneT. LionLink remains in the pre-application phase. Statutory consultation opened on 13th January, and closes next week on 10th March (running for 8 weeks) – on the same day as Sea Link’s Deadline 5. ESC are currently reviewing the consultation materials, engaging with elected ward members and local communities, and compiling a response to National Grid Ventures. This consultation allows statutory consultees to provide expert advice and concerns regarding the project to help shape the application before it is formally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, including the publication of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). 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. As many of you will also have noticed when reviewing the statutory consultation materials, many areas of assessment and survey work remain outstanding and will be undertaken ahead of submission later in 2026. This has resulted in gaps in data but ESC and local communities have been highlighting this in responses to NGV.
The application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate later this year.
- The Planning Inspectorate’s project page can be found here.
- DCO submission to PINS expected in late 2026 LionLink About | National Grid Group
Sizewell C – SZC Co
Sizewell C commenced construction in January 2024, and construction is anticipated to last 9-12 years. The first half of 2026 will see works progress at pace in the Friday Street (A12/A1094) area and the Yoxford area. A key focus is getting Friday Street and Yoxford roundabouts linked to the A12 and open to the road network, expected around early summer. Both the Southern Park and Ride (Wickham Market) and Northern Park and Ride (Darsham) will be opening in phases beginning from spring, with full openings due in the late summer, following partial operation starting in late 2025.
Milestones for the rail programme have recently been reached, with the trainline and rail head at the Ancillary Construction Area (ACA) fully installed and the first engineering train reaching the ACA in mid-February, followed by the first aggregate train into the ACA in early March. The Green Rail Route continues to be built from Buckleswood Road to the Temporary Construction Area (TCA), in February rail tracks began to be laid across the B1122 (Abbey Road). The level crossing will be constructed later in the year. Works continue in the beach and harbour area this spring, with a noticeable increase in marine activity associated with construction of the Construction Drainage Outfall and desalination pipes, and construction of the Marine Bulk Import Facility (MBIF). These works require footpath restrictions, which will be lifted over the weekends. The Orwell Logistics Park freight management facility is also now fully open with 350 office-based workers now working from the site.
- 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
- The Sizewell C Works Tracker provides the most current snapshot of ‘on the ground’ activity. Works can be followed on the Works Tracker: Home - Sizewell C Works Tracker (szcworkstracker.co.uk)
ScottishPower Renewables (SPR)
The East Anglia TWO and East Anglia ONE North offshore wind farm projects have now concluded the primary discharge of requirements attached to the DCO consents for the onshore works. The ESC team have now discharged the DCO requirements for both projects associated with the ‘substations stage’. Substation civil and ground works commenced on site in early March 2026.
- More details on the projects can be found here.
Norwich to Tilbury
The Project proposes to reinforce the high voltage (400 kV) electricity transmission network between Norwich Main down to Tilbury in Essex. The Project will involve new overhead power lines (400kV) as well as new substation works at Norwich Main (Norfolk), Bramford (Suffolk), Lawford, Tendring (Essex) and Tilbury (Essex). ESC will be monitoring the examination and hearings, noting we submitted a Relevant Representation, however we defer to the host authorities as the project is entirely located outside of the ESC district.
- More details can be found on the PINS website here.