National Grid launches public consultation on subsea power cable between Suffolk and the Netherlands
They're asking communities for their input
Last updated 13th Jan 2026
National Grid Ventures has launched a public consultation on updated plans for LionLink, a proposed subsea and underground electricity cable linking Suffolk with the Netherlands.
The eight-week consultation, which runs until March 10, provides residents with the opportunity to comment on refined proposals ahead of a formal planning application for the nationally significant infrastructure project.
LionLink is described as a first-of-its-kind interconnector, designed to combine offshore wind generation with cross-border electricity transfer in a single integrated system. If approved, it would be capable of supplying up to two gigawatts of electricity, enough to power around 2.5 million homes.
How would it be built?
Most of the cable would be routed offshore along the seabed, with onshore sections in Suffolk buried underground.
National Grid Ventures says 84 per cent of the UK section would be offshore, and that no permanent above-ground infrastructure would be visible once construction is complete.
As part of changes made following earlier consultations in 2022 and 2023, the company confirmed the cable would come ashore at Walberswick. An alternative route north of Southwold was ruled out after feedback from residents and an environmental assessment.
Gareth Burden, Project Director for LionLink, said:
“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:
“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.”
National Grid Ventures says it is working alongside other major infrastructure developers in the region, including Sizewell C and Sea Link, to coordinate temporary access routes and construction activity and reduce cumulative impacts on local communities.
Community input
As part of its consultation, the company is also seeking feedback on how community benefit funding could be used locally. National Grid Ventures says it is already working with charities, including National Energy Action and Catch22, supporting initiatives such as winter warmth packs and employment and education programmes.
A series of public information events are being held across Suffolk, alongside two online webinars with British Sign Language interpretation. Residents will be able to view detailed plans, speak directly to members of the project team, and submit feedback.
LionLink would require approval through a Development Consent Order, a planning process used for major infrastructure schemes. National Grid Ventures expects to submit its application later this year, with the project aiming to be operational by 2032 if consent is granted.
Further details, including consultation documents and event information, are available on the LionLink website.