Further to SEAS Update 241 the National Audit Office’s latest report raises further serious questions about the value for money of the proposed £3.2 billion Sea Link project.
Ofgem confirmed that the cost is around three times the figure presented during the DCO examination, while Sea Link also cannot operate at its full 2GW capacity without additional network upgrades that are not included in the £3.2 billion cost.
SEAS has already put forward an alternative: upgrading existing pylon corridors for less than £300 million, potentially saving consumers almost £3 billion – around £120 per English household. See SEAS Press Release HERE.
The NAO has highlighted the importance of making better use of existing infrastructure and ensuring that alternatives are properly considered before major new capacity is committed.
SEAS believes this makes the case for pausing Sea Link and independently reassessing whether there is a faster, cheaper and less damaging way to meet the underlying network need.