A new energy project that could see National Grid route new energy cables through RSPB North Warren Nature Reserve near Aldeburgh in Suffolk, has sparked serious concern and alarm from the RSPB.
If given the go ahead, the proposed electrical network reinforcement cable called Sea Link, would take electricity that has been generated from various sources including offshore windfarms, underground and directly through RSPB North Warren nature reserve as part of a connection between Suffolk and the Kent coast.
To run these cables through RSPB North Warren, National Grid propose drilling the cables through a working area across the centre of the wetland site which could cause large scale damage and disturbance.
The nature reserve has been an established and undisturbed haven for wildlife since 1939 and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its conservation importance. The grazing marshes and reedbeds at RSPB North Warren host thousands of ducks, swans and geese in winter whilst spring brings breeding Bittern and Marsh Harrier.
Marsh Harrier are seen at RSPB North Warren (c) Les Bunyan/RSPB Images
Not only could National Grid’s Sea Link cables potentially be routed through RSPB North Warren, but the nature reserve has also been identified as an option for two other similar cable routes called EuroLink and Nautilus, leading to the prospect of repeated damage to habitats and disturbance to wildlife over many years if these are also routed through the site.
The RSPB has questioned why such an important wildlife site has been put forward as a preferred location for this development, and believe that National Grid has not yet convincingly shown that no alternative routes are available.
Damaging developments which would affect a SSSI are normally only allowed as a last resort where there are no other alternatives.
With this in mind, the RSPB is asking National Grid to explain why routing the cables through RSPB North Warren is their preferred option and why they have been unable to avoid such an important site for the Sea Link project and potentially other similar projects in Suffolk. The RSPB is also asking the company to look again at all the potential options to avoid such important wildlife sites, including options they have not yet considered.
Adam Rowlands, the RSPB Area Manager in Suffolk said, “It’s dismaying to see that one of our most valuable wildlife sites, which is loved by visitors both from local towns and villages, and from further away, has seemingly been preferentially chosen for this infrastructure development. While we understand the need for network improvements to support energy needs, this shouldn’t come at the cost of the natural world. You can't solve the climate crisis without also solving the ecological crisis. Construction activity could have major effects on North Warren’s wildlife populations. This is a slippery slope, as once you start damaging one protected site, where does it all end? We ask National Grid to fully explore all other options and demonstrate that they will do their utmost to avoid impacting one of the Suffolk Coast’s most important wildlife reserves.”
In addition to the Sea Link cables that could cause damage to RSPB North Warren, we are also very concerned about potential damage and disturbance impacts from the Kent section of the Sea Link proposal. The cable could make landfall at Pegwell Bay in Kent and connect to a substation inland. We believe this is also an unsuitable location for this development as it crosses important designated wildlife sites: Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Ramsar, Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area (SPA), Sandwich Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Sandwich Bay to Hacklinge Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These sites are nationally important for biodiversity including overwintering wildfowl and waders. As part of this work, pylons and infrastructure further inland at Kent’s Minster Marshes could also impact wildlife. We are concerned that this development may open up this area to future infrastructure impacts. We believe that other, less damaging, options for locating the proposed infrastructure should be explored.
National Grid are currently holding a public consultation on their proposals for Sea Link. Members of the public and organisations can view their plans on the Sea Link website and submit comments by 18 December 2023.
Main image: Aerial view of RSPB North Warren (c) RSPB