East Suffolk Council
Council urges Government to improve coordination of major infrastructure projects during ministerial visit
During a recent ministerial visit to the district, East Suffolk Council has urged the Government to improve coordination and strategic oversight of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
On Thursday 18 December, Lord Vallance, Minister for Nuclear at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, visited Sizewell C. The Council's Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Ashton and cabinet member for Energy and Climate Change Cllr Tom Daly met with the Minister, alongside the MP for Suffolk Coastal Jenny Riddell-Carpenter. During discussions, the Council pressed its concerns about the lack of coordination across multiple NSIPs affecting East Suffolk and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum on the social and environmental mitigations secured as part of the Sizewell C project.
East Suffolk continues to play a significant role in the nation’s progress towards Net Zero, with several NSIPs already planned or under construction across the district and heritage coast. These include the Sizewell C new nuclear project, alongside other large-scale energy and infrastructure schemes, including the Sea Link grid reinforcement project currently in examination with the Planning Inspectorate. However, the concentration of these projects, many with overlapping construction periods in the same geographical areas, poses the risk of substantial cumulative impacts on local communities, the environment, the district’s tourism economy, and essential services.
The Council has for years consistently raised these concerns with central government, stressing the need for a more joined up approach to infrastructure consenting. It has repeatedly called for a comprehensive cost benefit analysis of all available options or, at minimum, a Government led requirement for developers to work collaboratively to minimise harm to host communities.
During the meeting, the Council reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with Government and developers but warned that the current system risks undermining community confidence and the deliverability of national infrastructure ambitions. The Council also reinforced its expectation that all NSIP developers must deliver the environmental mitigation and community benefits they have committed to, ensuring these measures provide meaningful and lasting value for local communities and environments.
Cllr Daly said:
“East Suffolk plays a vital role in supporting the nation’s energy and infrastructure ambitions. However, the sheer volume of major projects proposed for our district means we are facing unprecedented pressures. Whilst project benefits are on a national scale, the impacts are localised within our district. We need Government to take a more coordinated, strategic approach so that these projects can be delivered in a way that is fair to our communities and environment, and sustainable for the future. It is essential that the developers of these nationally significant projects not only make commitments but follow through on them, particularly when it comes to environmental mitigation and community benefits.”
In October, the Leader of East Suffolk Council, Cllr Caroline Topping, wrote to the Minister reiterating these concerns and invited him to visit the district to see firsthand the close proximity of the proposed NSIPs and the challenges faced by local communities.
East Suffolk Council will continue to advocate for improved coordination and collaboration between projects and developers and will keep pressing for communities affected by nationally important infrastructure to receive appropriate benefits for hosting them.