Suffolk County Council leaders rally behind opposition to controversial National Grid Sea Link plans between linking Suffolk to Kent

An energy company's approach for a major controversial power line has shown 'nothing short of arrogance', leaders have said.

Suffolk County Council's cabinet members met yesterday afternoon to discuss how to respond to National Grid's energy project linking Suffolk and Kent, known as Sea Link.

The company is looking to lay around 130 kilometres of underwater cabling running from Pegwell Bay, in Kent, to a point on Suffolk's coast between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.

But cabinet members have criticised the company for ignoring the views of the council and local communities.

Cllr Richard Rout, the lead for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), said National Greed had been 'high-handed, arrogant and dismissive' while carrying on at pace with a plan the council had no confidence in.

He said: "Their approach has been disgraceful and, in my opinion, calls into question their commitment to proper engagement and consultation —[it] has been deeply disappointing and must not be repeated."

Key to the council's proposed objection were plans to use Benhall Railway Bridge, on the B1121, which it argued could not take large loads and was not suitable for over-bridging, as well as the proposed crossing over the River Fromus, which would cause significant harm to the landscape and heritage assets.

Cllr Rout said the core construction hours, which would take place on bank holidays and weekends as well as weekdays, were 'unacceptable' to residents' amenity.

Further concerns were raised about the cumulative effects of other NSIPs and other major developments in the area.

Cllr Matthew Hicks, the council's leader, stressed the strong words against the company — he said: "To absolutely ignore, to blank, to have no interest in working with a county council that has a track record of doing a fantastic job on NSIPs, is nothing short of arrogance — National Grid have a lot to answer for on this application.

"That's not the way we work in Suffolk, and that's not the way we like to do business. We believe in working together to try and achieve the most for our residents."

Addressing the criticisms, a spokesperson for National Grid said the energy company had been listening to communities and local representatives for the past three years to help shape the proposals.

The spokesperson said: “We’re proposing temporary access roads to take construction traffic off local roads, a new bridge to reduce traffic through Saxmundham, and a traffic management plan designed to minimise disruption. To limit disturbance, we are also proposing restrictions on construction working hours. We continue to work with other developers to explore opportunities to share infrastructure.

“Sea Link is designed to support a cleaner, more secure energy system as electricity demand in East Anglia and beyond grows.

"The public and Suffolk County Council will have further opportunities to comment as the application progresses.”

Last month, National Grid announced it had chosen Siemens Energy as its preferred bidder for Sea Link’s two high-voltage direct current (HDVC) converter stations, one of which was planned for Saxmundham.

The project is currently seeking planning consent from the Government, which, if successful, could begin construction in 2027.

According to the Government website, the application is currently in the pre-examination stage, expected to take about three months.