Sizewell C and ScottishPower join forces to streamline road improvements in East Suffolk

• Collaboration will reduce road congestion, save on costs, and minimise environmental impact as development activity increases
• Agreement demonstrates how major infrastructure projects can work together
• Co-ordinated approach welcomed by local politicians

Two clean energy projects in East Suffolk have joined forces to coordinate their planned roadworks – a move that will reduce the impacts of construction in the local area.

Sizewell C and ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) are taking a coordinated approach to necessary local highway works in key areas of East Suffolk as part of the construction programmes for Sizewell C and the East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm.

The joined-up approach will help minimise disruption in areas where both companies need to undertake works, while mitigating the environmental impact of development.

For example, Sizewell C will deliver hundreds of metres of new kerbing and footways on behalf of both companies, ensuring the work is carried out at the same time.

The coordinated works include four key upgrade schemes:

• Theberton B1122 – ScottishPower Renewables has improved the Church Road junction and provided a new crossing
• Yoxford A12, A1120 – Sizewell C has improved footways and provided a new signal crossing of the A12
• Marlesford A12 –Sizewell C will provide new footways, around 1km of road resurfacing, a reduced speed limit and a new signal crossing
• Knodishall A1094/B1069 Junction – ScottishPower Renewables will provide junction improvements, a reduced speed limit and resurfacing

The collaborative approach has been agreed in conjunction with Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council.

Damian Leydon, Site Delivery Director at Sizewell C, said: “We all know the frustration of being held up by roadworks, only to see the road dug up again a few weeks later. This agreement seeks to avoid that scenario and demonstrates how major infrastructure projects can work together to deliver smarter, more efficient outcomes for the public and the environment.

“That’s especially important now as we increase our off-site activity. The work we’re doing, to improve existing roads and build new roads and rail infrastructure, as well as new park and rides for our team, will ultimately reduce the impacts on local roads and communities as we build this project. We recognise the level of roadworks taking place in East Suffolk – which is why collaborating with SPR, as well as other projects in the area, with the support of OFGEM and local councils, is vital to minimising that disruption.”

Michael Hotze, East Anglia TWO Execution Director for ScottishPower Renewables added: “While we always do everything we can to minimise any potential disruption on our local communities when carrying out onshore works, our collaboration with Sizewell C takes that one step further and shows how developers can work together for the benefit of local people. This common-sense approach will help reduce the need for multiple roadworks and ease traffic congestion through local villages while delivering long-lasting enhancements to the roads network.”

In addition to joint construction efforts, the two companies will share technical expertise, including logistics for transporting abnormal loads – large items that require special planning and permits due to their size and complexity.

This collaboration between Sizewell C and ScottishPower Renewables is just one example of how local energy projects are working together to develop efficiencies and mitigate the cumulative impact of development on local people and communities. It’s been welcomed by local politicians.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “This is a welcome step forward in the right direction – and something I have been campaigning on since I was elected in 2024. I’d like to see all energy developers follow this lead and work together to reduce the impact of their planned works on people, our roads, and our environment.”

Cllr Tom Daly, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Energy and Climate Change, added: “East Suffolk Council greatly welcomes this collaborative approach. It is crucial that all Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects impacting our district work together in the closest way possible to reduce impacts on communities and environment. Well done to Sizewell C and ScottishPower. This is a good example of the benefits that can be achieved.

“East Suffolk has been pushing, with developers and OFGEM for collaboration and coordination, not only on the road developments but also on converter station sites, cable trenches/corridors, and the connection site at Friston. We hope to see similar positive collaborative action in all these areas.”

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs, said: “The coordination and streamlining of these highways works, between ScottishPower and Sizewell C, supported by the work of Suffolk County Council, should be better news for the communities of east Suffolk who have been feeling the strain of increased disruption from big energy projects in the area. It demonstrates the benefits of communication and coordination between project promoters, and I’m very grateful to all those at Sizewell C, Scottish Power and the county council, who worked hard to make this happen.

“I hope to see tangible improvements to our highways network and how works are managed alongside the further benefits of cooperation between Sizewell C and other energy projects. The county council will continue to hold developers to account and push for the maximum possible coordination between consented projects so that the negative impacts on our communities are minimised.”

For the latest updates on Sizewell C’s construction progress, visit https://www.szcworkstracker.co.uk

For the latest information on ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia projects – including an interactive activity map – visit www.spreastanglia.com.