National Grid shares updated plans for proposed subsea electricity cable between Suffolk and The Netherlands

National Grid Ventures (NGV), responsible for building and operating LionLink as part of the commercial arm of National Grid, has published its refined proposals for LionLink, a new subsea and underground electricity cable – known as an interconnector – which will connect an offshore wind farm to Great Britain’s and the Netherlands’ electricity grids.

NGV is inviting feedback on its latest proposals through an eight-week public consultation, running from Tuesday 13 January to Tuesday 10 March 2026. The consultation will give members of the community an opportunity to see how their comments have been considered since the previous consultations and provide further feedback on the plans, prior to NGV applying for development consent from the Planning Inspectorate.

LionLink is set to be one of the first projects of its kind, helping to shape the future of offshore renewable energy by combining wind generation and cross border interconnection in a single, integrated project. At present, offshore wind farms and international interconnectors operate independently, each requiring their own separate connection to land. LionLink reduces the number of individual shore landings, cuts infrastructure costs, and supports a more resilient, flexible energy system.

Supplying up to two gigawatts of cleaner electricity – enough to power approximately 2.5 million British homes, LionLink will play an important role in maximising the use of offshore wind and supporting the UK government’s objectives to create a secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply for consumers.

Gareth Burden, Project Director for LionLink, commented: 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. Everyone who took the time to comment on our initial proposals since the 2022 and 2023 non-statutory consultations has helped us to refine our plans and consider the concerns of the community. We are coordinating with other developers in Suffolk on a regular basis so that where possible, we can work together to ensure construction is carried out in manageable sections, and we can avoid long term disruption in any one area.

NGV has over 40 years of experience in constructing, developing, and operating interconnectors, with six in operation, enabling the flow of energy between Great Britain and partners in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. In each of these developments, NGV has sought to work closely with its partners, ensuring the benefits are felt by those affected by any work. In Suffolk, collaboration with other local developers is well-underway through regulator led meetings and the sharing of infrastructure plans. While commitments to support the local area are being delivered through partnerships with both National Energy Action and Catch22.

As part of its ongoing commitment to engage with the community following previous consultations on LionLink in 2022 and 2023, NGV announced that the subsea cable for LionLink will be located onshore at Walberswick, a decision made following an assessment of the environment and local residents’ concerns around access constraints and traffic impacts. An alternative underground HVDC cable corridor to the north of Southwold was discounted following the consultations. NGV is also working closely with local authorities to ensure no construction takes place on the beach, and there is no visible infrastructure once the project is complete. 84% of the UK section of the LionLink cable will be offshore, and all onshore sections will be buried underground.

NGV is holding a series of public information events at venues close to the proposed cable route. At each event, attendees can view the proposals, speak to members of the project team and read printed copies of all consultation materials. The event schedule is as follows:

NGV will also be presenting on its proposals and taking questions during the consultation period through two live online webinars, which the public can register to attend via the www.nationalgrid.com/lionlink. The webinars will include a British Sign Language interpreter.

ENDS 

Notes to editors

All of the consultation documents prepared for the public consultation will be available on the project website, www.nationalgrid.com/lionlink, on Tuesday 13 January 2026, including the full Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). Additionally, the documents listed will be available to view at the following venues.

• Project overview document
• Project overview document – quick read
• Consultation leaflet
• Feedback form and freepost envelopes
• Statement of community consultation*
• Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) non-technical summary*
• Options siting and routeing report*
• Plans and drawings*
• Guide to using the consultation plans and drawings*

* Reference copies available only.

To learn more about the consultation and how to get involved, members of the public can:  

• Visit the project website: www.nationalgrid.com/lionlink
• Email: [email protected]
• Write to: Freepost NGV LIONLINK

The deadline for feedback is 11:59pm on the 10 March 2026.

Members of the public who prefer to respond to the consultation via post can receive a printed copy of the feedback form and freepost envelope by contacting [email protected]. Postal responses will be accepted until 16 March 2026.

The construction of LionLink requires the granting of a Development Consent Order (DCO). This is a special type of planning application for nationally significant infrastructure projects, where an independent panel of inspectors is appointed to review the plans. The inspectors will issue a recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, who will make the final decision. NGV anticipates submitting a DCO application for LionLink in 2026, expecting to be operational in 2032.