Two major clean energy projects in East Suffolk have entered into a collaborative agreement to synchronise their planned roadworks, a move designed to significantly decrease the cumulative impact of construction on the local area.

ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) and Sizewell C are coordinating their respective highway improvement programmes for the East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm and the Sizewell C nuclear power station. This joined-up strategy aims to prevent redundant works and mitigate environmental impacts in locations where both developers require infrastructure upgrades. As part of the agreement, Sizewell C will install hundreds of metres of new footways and kerbing on behalf of both organisations to ensure the tasks are completed simultaneously.

The coordinated efforts focus on four specific upgrade schemes:

• Theberton B1122: ScottishPower Renewables has already completed improvements to the Church Road junction and installed a new crossing.

• Yoxford A12, A1120: Sizewell C has delivered enhanced footways and a new signal-controlled crossing on the A12.

• Marlesford A12: Sizewell C is set to provide approximately 1km of road resurfacing, new footways, a fresh signal crossing, and a reduced speed limit.

• Knodishall A1094/B1069 Junction: ScottishPower Renewables will carry out junction improvements, resurfacing, and implement a lower speed limit.

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This collaborative framework was established alongside East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council.

Michael Hotze, East Anglia TWO Execution Director for ScottishPower Renewables, said: "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."

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. 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."

The initiative has received backing from local representatives. 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."

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."