Government decision on energy projects could threaten Suffolk communities

Government is planning to overhaul the nuclear system to speed up building, strengthen national and energy security, cut costs, and not get “bogged down in processes”, as described by the Prime Minister.

In response to a report by the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, government has accepted a recommendation to establish an in-house unit at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to discharge Development Consent Order (DCO) requirements.

This is currently the responsibility of local authorities, who are best-placed to consider the impacts on local communities and local environment.

Taking this further, government is also minded to extend that approach beyond nuclear projects and electricity network projects, to all energy projects.

Suffolk County Council is concerned that this will in fact add layers of bureaucracy, slow down the process and put communities at risk of being ill-considered as projects are built.

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs, said:

“Local communities rely on their local authorities to hold National Grid, and other energy developers, to account – something which Suffolk County Council has, and continues to do effectively. We can ensure that they are robustly protected when this critical national priority infrastructure is being built.

“Does DESNZ have the capacity and skills to deliver this work for multiple projects across the country? Or will it, as seems more likely, place additional burdens on local authorities to support this new layer of bureaucracy, with the cost falling on local taxpayers?

“At a time when government is looking to increase the speed of delivery and reduce complexity of these projects, I fail to see how this recommendation will speed up process.”

This means that projects directly affecting Suffolk like Norwich to Tilbury pylons, Sea Link and LionLink risk causing more harm to local communities and environment, when decisions and powers to discharge will fall to DESNZ, rather than experienced local authorities.