Energy secretary agrees to meet over city’s grid capacity issues
Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey told the House of Commons projects were being held up by constraints at the Nursling Grid Supply Point
Last updated 9th Jan 2026
A senior government minister has agreed to meet with Southampton leaders to discuss how a lack of electricity grid capacity is holding back major investment in the city.
Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey told the House of Commons projects were being held up by constraints at the Nursling Grid Supply Point.
The Labour backbencher asked energy secretary Ed Miliband to meet with him and local industry bosses to explore how the issue can be addressed.
The direct request came after the city’s two MPs, port operator ABP and maritime sector leaders wrote to the government last month.
In a detailed letter, there was a joint call for action with a warning that urgent measures had to be taken to deliver the power infrastructure needed to secure the future of the Port of Southampton.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, January 6, Mr Paffey said: “Southampton is Europe’s leading cruise port, it’s the second-biggest container terminal in the country and our industry stands ready to invest millions in decarbonisation, but they are being held up by the grid constraints at the Nursling supply point.
“Will the minister meet me and local industry leaders to see how we can unlock the very obvious environmental and economic benefits that this would bring?”
Mr Miliband said: “Our team would be happy to meet with him.
“I think what this shows and so many other questions is the huge opportunities arising from home-grown, clean power, including in fantastic Southampton.”
As well as referencing a delay to key decarbonisation projects, the letter sent to maritime and energy ministers in early December said a critical lack of grid capacity was holding back port operations and preventing hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment.
The constraint was already said to be delaying “shovel ready” schemes, including expansions at cruise and container docks.
Politicians were joined by Associated British Ports (ABP), Carnival UK, DP World, Red Funnel, Maritime Solent, the National Oceanography Centre and Southampton City Council in making their case to government.