The council's key concerns include:
- The loss of large areas of best and most versatile agricultural land
- The impact of construction traffic on local roads and communities
- Effects on the landscape, countryside views and public rights of way
- Potential impacts on wildlife, heritage assets and the natural environment
- Flood risk and water supply issues
- The safety, design and operation of the proposed battery energy storage facilities
- The combined impact of this project alongside other major infrastructure and energy developments planned across the area
Councillor Tristan Gale, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Planning, Devolution and the Fire Service, said:
“The recommendation to the cabinet is that the county council objects to this scheme on a number of grounds.
“Most notably, around 96% of this project is on Suffolk’s best and most versatile agricultural land, and road access to many parts of the project is, at best, problematic.
“The potential impact of the construction of this scheme in terms of traffic, disturbance, and the well-being of our communities, must be addressed by EcoPower.
“The battery storage proposals are also of significant concern, and the dispersed arrangements mean that parishes across the project are now hosting battery storage.
“This project comes on top of multiple energy schemes being dealt with by the district council and National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury pylon project.
“Local communities and the council won improvements to this project in the last consultation, and will need to try and do this again before the application is submitted to the Secretary of State.”
The council will continue to engage with EcoPower Suffolk and seek changes that reduce impacts on local communities and the environment.
Under the Planning Act process, Suffolk County Council is a statutory consultee. Any final decision on the project would be made by the Secretary of State, not the county council. The council's role is to assess the proposals, represent local interests and seek improvements where necessary.
At its meeting on 14 July 2026, the county council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the council's consultation response before it is submitted to EcoPower Suffolk ahead of the consultation deadline on 16 August 2026.
