The planning of the LionLink project is now reaching its final stages, before an expected application for a Development Consent Order later in 2026.
Therefore, the county council is urging concerned residents, businesses, organisations and town and parish councils to get up-to-speed with the scheme’s plans, so they are in a position to contribute to the forthcoming consultation.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs, said:
“It is imperative that local communities engage with the upcoming LionLink consultation, it is the final chance to influence the design, the routing, and ultimately the need for the project, before the application is submitted.
“I completely understand that some communities are exhausted – on a constantly moving conveyor belt of responding to consultation after consultation, for project after project. Much of which could have been mitigated if there was better coordination across all the huge infrastructure projects on Suffolk’s doorstep.
“That is something that the county council has been calling for years, lobbying government and project promoters. In this case, coordination between National Grid’s own projects, LionLink and Sea Link.
“So, it was incredibly frustrating when National Grid published details in March 2024, to say that it has no intention to coordinate LionLink with Sea Link at Aldeburgh, instead it is proposing a separate landing point at either Southwold or Walberswick. This will only cause further unnecessary destruction of the Suffolk countryside and natural environment.”
Initial details about the consultation are available on National Grid’s LionLink website, with further information being published in the new year.
