National Grid unveils plans to secure 'affordable energy' for 2.5 million households - what you need to know

The company, which is the commercial division of National Grid, is seeking public input through a consultation period lasting eight weeks, commencing on Tuesday, January 13 and concluding on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

This consultation offers local residents the chance to examine how previous feedback has shaped the project's development and to submit additional comments before NGV seeks development consent from the Planning Inspectorate.

The initiative represents one of the first ventures globally to integrate wind power generation with international electricity transmission infrastructure.

Unlike conventional arrangements where offshore wind farms and international interconnectors require separate connections to the shore, LionLink merges both functions into a single integrated system.

This approach significantly reduces the number of landing points needed along the coastline whilst lowering overall infrastructure expenses. The project will also create a more robust and adaptable energy network.

With capacity to deliver up to two gigawatts of cleaner electricity, the interconnector will generate sufficient power for roughly 2.5 million British households.

LionLink is expected to enhance offshore wind utilisation and advance government ambitions for an energy supply that is secure, dependable and cost-effective for consumers.

Gareth Burden, the project director for LionLink, broke down what the business deal means for the wider energy industry and consumers.

He shared: "Our plans for LionLink have moved on significantly since we first announced the project. We've worked hard to ensure our approach will deliver real, lasting benefits to the economy with as little disruption as possible."

He added that everyone who contributed feedback during the non-statutory consultations held in 2022 and 2023 has helped refine the proposals and address community concerns.

Mr Burden noted that NGV maintains regular coordination with other developers operating in Suffolk, enabling collaborative construction planning in manageable phases to prevent prolonged disruption affecting any single area.

NGV brings more than four decades of expertise in constructing and operating interconnectors, currently running six such links connecting Britain with Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Following environmental assessments and community feedback regarding access limitations and traffic concerns, the company confirmed that the subsea cable will come ashore at Walberswick, with an alternative route north of Southwold having been ruled out.

The vast majority of the cable, 84 per cent of the UK section, will remain offshore, with all onshore portions buried underground and no visible infrastructure remaining after completion.

Public information events will be held at venues near the proposed route, allowing attendees to review plans and speak with project team members.

In light of Storm Goretti, National Grid has warned customers across parts of the South West, Midlands and South Wales to be ready for power cuts amid strong winds, heavy rain and snow that have already knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of homes.

Their teams are working around the clock to restore supplies, with extra engineers and customer support staff on standby and advice for those affected to call 105 if they lose power.

The network operator is also urging people to prepare for potential disruption by having torches, charged phones and warm supplies ready as the storm’s severe conditions continue to impact the grid.