logo
Preferred landfall site for Suffolk power cables revealed

Preferred landfall site for Suffolk power cables revealed

BBC News19-02-2025

National Grid has revealed where it wants to build energy infrastructure for cabling between the UK and the Netherlands.The power line - called LionLink - would connect the two countries' electricity grids and an offshore windfarm. The energy company wants the cables to reach land at Walberswick, in Suffolk. A converter station, covering six hectares, would be built close to nearby Saxmundham, which would connect to a substation at the village of Friston.National Grid said landfall at Walberswick would "minimise disruption", but a county councillor described it as "simply a bad decision".
Ben Wilson, president of National Grid Ventures, which is behind the project, said: "After two rounds of community consultation and detailed technical and environmental assessments, we have selected Walberswick as our preferred landfall site for LionLink."He added: "We have carefully chosen Walberswick for its shorter cable route, which will minimise disruption and environmental impact."
National Grid are behind a similar project, Sea Link, which would see energy cables linking the power grids in Suffolk and Kent.Cables would come on shore between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.Suffolk County Council have called for the two projects to share infrastructure. Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, said: "The lack of coordination between National Grid's own projects - LionLink and Sea Link - is startling. "Landfall for LionLink at Walberswick is simply a bad decision."Rout, a Conservative councillor, added: "Given the close proximity of both the LionLink and Sea Link projects, coordination between them should be paramount, but National Grid's failure to do so means that we are now going to see irreversible damage to important landscapes in the county, and further suffering for more local people."A spokesperson for National Grid said: "The application for our Sea Link project has not yet been submitted."We have been consulting local communities in East Suffolk for the last three years, including local political representatives, all with the aim of identifying ways to keep disruption from construction to a minimum."
National Grid Ventures said it would be holding "two community drop-ins and an online webinar for local people to find out more about the landfall decision and the next steps of the project".LionLink's statutory consultation is scheduled to start later in 2025, with a Development Consent Order expected to be submitted to the government in 2026.If given the go ahead, the infrastructure could be in operation from 2032.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says
UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says

Rhyl Journal

time39 minutes ago

  • Rhyl Journal

UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid, criticised the UK Labour Government for reclassifying the £6.6 billion Oxford to Cambridge line to an England and Wales project. The designation means Wales will not receive the additional rail funding it would get if branded an England-only project. Mr ap Iorwerth called on Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour First Minister, to condemn the reclassification. Baroness Morgan agreed Wales was not getting its fair share but said she was expecting to see positive changes in the UK Government's spending review on Wednesday. Mr ap Iorwerth's comments come following reports that revealed the project had originally been listed as England-only from 2020 to 2024. The Treasury told the BBC the classification was a 'publishing error' and insisted it was always considered an England and Wales development. Speaking First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr ap Iorwerth said: 'We were getting our share until Labour actively moved the goalposts. 'Labour went out of its way to make sure Wales wouldn't get the money when the big spending really began.' He added: 'She should be joining me in condemning the UK Labour Government for betraying Wales. Will she?' Mr ap Iorwerth argued the reclassification was a 'new HS2 scandal' – a rail project that has been controversial in Wales. Despite none of the track being laid in the country, it was also designated an England and Wales project by the last UK Conservative government. Plaid has said this designation cost Wales £3.9 billion in funding. Responding to Mr Iorwerth, Baroness Morgan said: 'I've learned to expect nothing but constant negativity from the Plaid Cymru leader. 'I've been clear and I've been consistent when it comes to rail funding that we have not been getting our fair share of funding, in a position that the Tories left us with for over a decade. 'The difference between the Tories and the UK Labour Government is that they've recognised that injustice. 'I don't know what's going to be in the spending review, but the one thing I do know is that if Labour gave Wales a total land of milk and honey, Plaid Cymru would still find fault.' Baroness Morgan added they were 'expecting something positive from the spending review', but the Welsh government would have to keep on making the case for a fair share of funding. In January, the UK government admitted Welsh railways had been underfunded, with spending at 'low levels' in recent years. However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not announce any additional funding at the time.

Dundee tourist tax early consultation approved
Dundee tourist tax early consultation approved

The Courier

timean hour ago

  • The Courier

Dundee tourist tax early consultation approved

An early consultation on a possible tourist tax in Dundee has been approved. A report on implementing a visitor levy in the city was considered by councillors on Monday evening. During a meeting of the economic growth committee, councillors approved an early engagement exercise with local businesses and residents. A working group will be set up to engage with local businesses, residents and 'any other relevant partners'. Feedback from this will then be heard by councillors at a committee meeting, where they will decide whether a statutory consultation should be approved. The earliest date a Dundee tourist tax will be launched is spring 2028. Edinburgh City Council was the first in Scotland to approve a visitor levy. From next summer, it will charge visitors an extra 5% on top of their accommodation costs. The early engagement period is set to begin this summer and run until spring next year. If approved, a statutory consultation would run for 12 weeks. A decision will then be made in autumn 2026 on whether a Dundee tourist tax should be introduced. If it is approved, an 18-month implementation period will allow businesses and communities time to prepare for the levy. However not all councillors backed the move. Conservative councillor Derek Scott called for councillors to note the report but take no further action, saying it could put people off visiting Dundee. 'I've always been opposed to a visitor levy,' said Mr Scott. 'I think the Scottish Government should be providing sufficiently in their funding allocation to local authorities to fully support the tourism sector. 'I've always been concerned about the impact a tourist tax would have on attracting visitors in what is a very competitive market.'

UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says
UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says

Western Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Western Telegraph

UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid, criticised the UK Labour Government for reclassifying the £6.6 billion Oxford to Cambridge line to an England and Wales project. The designation means Wales will not receive the additional rail funding it would get if branded an England-only project. Mr ap Iorwerth called on Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour First Minister, to condemn the reclassification. Baroness Morgan agreed Wales was not getting its fair share but said she was expecting to see positive changes in the UK Government's spending review on Wednesday. Mr ap Iorwerth's comments come following reports that revealed the project had originally been listed as England-only from 2020 to 2024. The Treasury told the BBC the classification was a 'publishing error' and insisted it was always considered an England and Wales development. Speaking First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr ap Iorwerth said: 'We were getting our share until Labour actively moved the goalposts. 'Labour went out of its way to make sure Wales wouldn't get the money when the big spending really began.' He added: 'She should be joining me in condemning the UK Labour Government for betraying Wales. Will she?' Mr ap Iorwerth argued the reclassification was a 'new HS2 scandal' – a rail project that has been controversial in Wales. Despite none of the track being laid in the country, it was also designated an England and Wales project by the last UK Conservative government. Plaid has said this designation cost Wales £3.9 billion in funding. Responding to Mr Iorwerth, Baroness Morgan said: 'I've learned to expect nothing but constant negativity from the Plaid Cymru leader. 'I've been clear and I've been consistent when it comes to rail funding that we have not been getting our fair share of funding, in a position that the Tories left us with for over a decade. 'The difference between the Tories and the UK Labour Government is that they've recognised that injustice. 'I don't know what's going to be in the spending review, but the one thing I do know is that if Labour gave Wales a total land of milk and honey, Plaid Cymru would still find fault.' Baroness Morgan added they were 'expecting something positive from the spending review', but the Welsh government would have to keep on making the case for a fair share of funding. In January, the UK government admitted Welsh railways had been underfunded, with spending at 'low levels' in recent years. However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not announce any additional funding at the time.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store