Suffolk County Council is setting up a Centre of Excellence to support other local authorities with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
The council has been recognised by the Government for its knowledge and expertise when engaging with NSIPs such as Sizewell C, the Gull Wing, National Grid upgrades and offshore wind farms.
The Government’s Innovation and Capacity Fund is providing £90,500, which will see the council run a programme of monthly seminars culminating in a conference to increase the skills and expertise of local authority officers and politicians across the eastern region, to deal with these complicated projects.
Ultimately this will create a collaborative network across local authorities across the East, to share good practice and knowledge.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and environment, said:
“Suffolk has seen an incredibly high number of NSIPs in recent times, and some of the largest in the country.
“Many of these are complex, straddling several local authorities at one time, requiring careful management and aligning of approaches.
“This funding will allow Suffolk County Council to share its vast range of experience gained through a range of large projects over recent years. It is recognition of our staff’s expertise in engaging with the processes, but also recognition by the Government that local authorities face many challenges with NSIPs.
“Whether we are putting forward our own proposal, such as the Gull Wing, or participating as a stakeholder, such as in Sizewell C, our position as an authority is clear. Our responsibility is to minimise the impacts of these projects on local communities and maximise the opportunities, such as funding, training and jobs. We will look forward to sharing of our experiences with colleagues around the region.”
