08 Jan 2026
National Grid shares updated plans for proposed subsea electricity cable between Suffolk and The Netherlands
- A first of its kind interconnector, LionLink will play an important role in ensuring secure and affordable energy for consumers.
- The cable connection will be underground in Suffolk with most of the cable routed offshore in the seabed. It will supply up to two gigawatts of cleaner electricity, strengthening Britain’s energy supply.
- An eight-week public consultation is launching from 13 January to 10 March 2026.
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:
| Date | Time | Location |
| Saturday 24 January 2026 | 11 am – 4 pm | Fromus Centre, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1AL |
| Saturday 31 January 2026 | 11am – 4pm | Walberswick Village Hall, The Street, Southwold, IP18 6TZ |
| Friday 06 February 2026 | 2 – 7 pm | High Lodge Leisure, Haw Wood, Hinton, Nr Darsham, Suffolk, IP17 3QT |
| Saturday 21 February 2026 | 11 am – 4 pm | Westleton Village Hall, The Street, Westleton, Saxmundham IP17 3AD |
| Saturday 28 February 2026 | 11 am – 4 pm | Yoxford Village Hall, Old High Road, Yoxford, IP17 3HN |
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 LionLink website. The webinars will include a British Sign Language interpreter.
| Date | Time |
| Wednesday 4 February 2026 | 6pm-7.30pm |
| Tuesday 3 March 2026 | 6pm-7.30pm |
Contact Information
Tom Dooks
Media & PR Manager, NGV
National Grid
07701 276607
thomas.dooks@nationalgrid.com
Notes to editors
All of the consultation documents prepared for the public consultation will be available on the project website, http://www.nationalgrid.com/lionlink, on Tuesday 13 January 2026. All documents will also be available to view and download from the LionLink website, 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.
| Location | Address | Opening Hours |
| Saxmundham Library | Block B, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham, IP17 1AL |
|
| Saxmundham Town Council | The Town House, Station Approach, Saxmundham, IP17 1BW |
|
| Southwold Library | Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold, IP18 6LD |
|
| Halesworth Library | Bridge Street, Halesworth, IP19 8AD |
|
| Leiston Library | Main Street, Leiston, IP16 4ER |
|
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: info@lionlink.nationalgrid.com
- 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 info@lionlink.nationalgrid.com. 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.
About National Grid: National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system. The individual companies in our group run the networks and infrastructure that connect millions of people to the electricity they use every day. Our regulated businesses own and develop the high voltage electricity transmission (ET) network in England and Wales, and the electricity distribution (ED) network in the Midlands, South West England and South Wales. Operating separately from these core regulated units, National Grid Ventures (NGV) focusses on competitive markets, investing in energy projects, technologies and partnerships such as electricity interconnectors. Much of the UK’s electricity network was built in the 1960s when the country was reliant on fossil fuels. Today, the UK needs to connect huge volumes of renewable power to the network, to help deliver the government’s energy security strategy and net zero targets and to support the nation’s transition to a cleaner, more affordable, and more independent energy system. This forms part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the network in a generation.
About LionLink: National Grid Ventures (NGV) is developing plans to build LionLink, a new subsea cable (known as an interconnector) between the UK and the Netherlands. LionLink will bring offshore wind energy to the UK by connecting to a Dutch offshore wind farm. It will enable the flow of energy between the UK and Dutch electricity systems. LionLink will connect enough energy to the UK’s electricity grid to power c.2.5 million homes. It will play an important role in keeping household energy bills down and providing the UK with a secure and reliable energy supply.
About National Energy Action (NEA): National Energy Action is the national charity working to end fuel poverty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. National Grid has partnered with NEA to deliver the Winter Warmth initiative following the success of last year’s programme. This year’s initiative helped continue to reduce the risk of cold-related illness, improve wellbeing, and provide practical support to residents in Suffolk, who may otherwise face difficult choices between heating and other essentials. Packs were distributed within the Suffolk Coastal constituency to households in need of supplies this winter.
About Catch22: Catch22 is a not-for-profit business with a 200+ year mission to build resilience and aspiration. Catch22 and National Grid have partnered to drive social mobility and community resilience. The partnership delivers real-world impact: employment pathways, education, and local economic growth. The Suffolk initiatives tackle rural barriers and creates inclusive opportunities.
Powered by Onclusive PR Manager © 2026