Councillors in East Suffolk have expressed frustration with the Government’s unwillingness to discuss the cumulative impacts of delivering multiple, national energy projects affecting communities throughout the district and beyond.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero the Leader of East Suffolk Council, Caroline Topping, invited the Rt Hon Ed Miliband to see, first hand, the close proximity of a range of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)in the area or, at the very least, to begin a dialogue on the matter. She also expressed concerns about an apparent lack of project co-ordination, and the issues this raises.
However, in a three-line response to the letter, Cllr Topping was informed that the Secretary of State was too busy and no discussions would be considered.
Cllr Tom Daly, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Energy Projects expressed the Council’s deep frustration with the Government’s lack of interest in the concerns of local communities. He said:
“East Suffolk is rapidly becoming the Energy Coast of the UK. Multiple NSIPs including new nuclear, multiple offshore wind landfalls and solar power sites are being developed. Therefore, the cumulative impacts, the problems they raise and how these are managed in the best interests of the environment and communities, should be of primary interest to the SoS.
“If host communities of these highly impactful developments are not to feel completely ignored by central government in the rush to hit targets, a commitment to understanding local concerns must be taken seriously. I appeal to the SoS to take advantage of this invitation to see the reality on the ground and show the respect our communities deserve."
In the letter, Cllr Topping outlined East Suffolk’s critical role in the nation’s progress towards Net Zero, with projects already planned or under construction, contributing to an eventual estimated 30% of the country’s electricity to be generated in, or pass through, our district.
However, she made it clear that local communities “are straining under the lack of a coherent strategy around these multiple NSIPs.
“While Sizewell C is under construction, two offshore wind farms (ScottishPower Renewables’ EA1N and EA2) have been given planning consent to build three substations (ie two for ScottishPower Renewables and one for National Grid) just four miles away in the medieval hamlet of Friston. A further interconnector and one grid reinforcement (both National Grid) are in the planning stages, also looking to connect in the same village (LionLink and Sea Link)," she continued.
“If consented, LionLink and Sea Link will connect into the consented National Grid substation at Friston which, collectively with the two ScottishPower Renewables’ substations, will be larger than the footprint of Wembley Stadium, taking their own cable routes, each with their own converter station and on their own timelines. Incomprehensibly, each developer holds their own project’s consultations in isolation from the other projects and does not adequately take into account the cumulative impact of all of the other NSIPs.
“Since forming the administration in 2023, we have been calling for a pause in the chaotic planning process of these five projects and the case for a cost-benefit analysis of all the options available or, as a minimum, a government-led mandatory requirement for projects to work collaboratively to ensure the least amount of harm to the hosting community.
“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this matter to our district and similarly affected communities across the country. I am sure we are in agreement that at this historic crossroads of doing things differently and better, a truly green and just transition away from fossil fuels requires a properly planned approach, where the costs to the developers are not borne by our communities and our already threatened environment.”
Paul Ashton, Deputy Leader of the Council, added:
“Our invitation to Ed Miliband was a genuine attempt to collaborate with the government to improve coordination of the various energy projects to minimise the negative impacts to East Suffolk. It was a chance for the Secretary of State to treat us as a partner to work with, and to demonstrate to local people that the government is listening. Instead, we received a brush off.
“East Suffolk Council will continue to push for improved coordination of the energy projects impacting our district. We would like the government to work with us. The invitation to the Secretary of State remains open if he would like to reconsider.”