Suffolk upset over Nautilus decision to route to Friston

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has announced that the so-called Nautilus interconnector to take power from offshore wind farms to the UK and Belgium will continue to be routed to a substation at Friston, as planned.

However, groups such as Suffolk Energy Action Solutions (SEAS) had been hopeful that the cable could be routed to an alternative onshore site at the Isle of Grain in Kent instead.

READ MORE: Nautilus interconnector will still be routed through Friston

Power firm National Grid's Nautilus interconnector is one of a number of cables carrying offshore power that are set to be routed through Friston, with Sea Link, connecting Suffolk and Kent and LionLink, between the UK and Netherlands, among the other projects.

The campaigners are particularly concerned about the projects' impact on the environment and communities, with a converter station also set to be built at Saxmundham to receive the cables.

SEAS founder Fiona Gilmore described the combination of projects as an "onslaught".

SEAS founder Fiona Gilmore (Image: Charlotte Bond)

She said: "Of course, we think this latest announcement is compounding the nightmare situation for this region. 

READ MORE: Energy minister hears Suffolk wind farm cable concerns

"With the Labour government’s narrative where they are racing to Net Zero we could deduce that our campaign for more thoughtful spatial strategy plans is a waste of time.

"However, that is not how we see it. 

"We think that these plans are ill-conceived and needlessly destructive. 

"In fact, they are not the most cost-efficient or the fastest."

She called for a strategic plan to be drawn up to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions, which would use brownfield sites "closer to demand".

Suffolk county councillor Richard Rout, the deputy cabinet member for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), revealed the regulator's decision to proceed with Friston because of the costs involved with the Isle of Grain proposal, in an online column. 

Richard Rout, of Suffolk County Council (Image: Richard Rout)

READ MORE: East Suffolk Council calls for 'offshore solutions'

He said: “Suffolk is yet again bracing itself for the impact of another large energy project. It feels like the same old story, with cost-savings prioritised over the harmful effects on our communities and environment.

“The council has always supported the need for the country to ensure energy security.

“But we’re now seeing layer upon layer of uncoordinated energy projects impacting Suffolk, irreversibly damaging communities, their heritage and environment. It’s relentless and it is unfair.”

Tom Daly, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for energy and climate change, added his disappointment. 

He said: "This is yet another huge and incongruous industrial development in our precious countryside to be seen alongside all the other proposals this community is being swamped by.

Tom Daly, of East Suffolk Council (Image: East Suffolk Council)

"Ofgem - the energy regulator - issued a press release in March 2024, where it was announced that it did not approve the Isle of Grain proposal because the constraint costs.

"Whilst acknowledging that decision, I never anticipated that Friston would come back on the table."

Gareth Burden, National Grid's Nautilus construction director, said: "The connection agreement for the proposed Nautilus interconnector has always been at Friston.

"In response to community concerns about the number of energy projects taking place in Suffolk, we explored the possibility of moving Nautilus to the Isle of Grain.

"The regulator, Ofgem, did not approve this proposal.

"Nautilus will have the capacity to power up to 1.7million UK homes, supplying clean, secure, renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"We understand that people have questions about the impact of energy projects on their local area.

"Local knowledge and experience are crucial to the development of projects like Nautilus and we look forward to the public’s feedback on our plans during the 2026 consultation."