Residents will be able to have a say on plans for a new offshore electricity transmission link in Suffolk.

Electricity and gas company National Grid is running an eight-week consultation from Monday until December 18 to seek communities’ views on the new Sea Link project.

The plans involve a new, predominantly offshore electricity connection, around 140km in length and with a 2 gigawatt (GW) subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC).

Feedback is being sought before National Grid submits a planning application to the Planning Inspectorate.

A consultation was held last year on the initial plans, but this statutory consultation gives residents the chance to see how the project has developed.

Over the eight weeks, members of the public will be able to attend events, webinars, collect information from local deposit points, or book an ‘ask the experts’ appointment. 

Public information exhibitions will be held at the Old Generator Station in Aldeburgh from 12pm to 5.30pm on Wednesday, November 8, and from 11am to 4.30pm on Thursday, November 9, and in Market Hall in Saxmundham from 2pm to 8.30pm on both Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25.

An ask the expert session will be held in Friston Village Hall on Thursday, November 23 from 2.30pm to 7.30pm.

There will be online webinars on the onshore proposals in Suffolk and marine proposals on Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm and Tuesday, October 31 from 2pm to 3pm.

Mike Elmer, programme director for Sea Link, said: “This reinforcement between Suffolk and Kent is essential in the UK’s journey to net zero by 2050 and is part of a wider programme to upgrade the entire network.

“We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and we welcome feedback on our proposals.” 

Adrian Pierssene, project director for Sea Link, added: “This reinforcement between Suffolk and Kent is essential in the UK’s journey to net zero by 2050.

"We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and feedback on our proposals.”

The plans are part of the government’s targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.