Northern park and ride opens for Sizewell C workforce

Sizewell C has opened the first section of its Northern Park and Ride facility at Darsham, aiming to reduce local traffic congestion as the site’s construction progresses.

The site, strategically placed off Willow Marsh Lane near the A12, is dedicated to transporting workers to the Temporary and Ancillary Construction Areas on the outskirts of Leiston while providing a convenient hub for commuting.

Initially running limited shuttle services, the Northern Park and Ride will eventually offer a 24/7 timetable and accommodate up to 1,250 vehicles. Alongside minimising road congestion, the initiative contributes to reducing emissions, with shuttle services operated by zero-emission buses.

Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, said:

“I’m really proud of the team for working so hard to get the Northern Park and Ride partially open. Building a nuclear power station inevitably causes some disruption, but significant off-site infrastructure projects like this will remove thousands of cars traveling in and out of Leiston every day.

“This is a great milestone to reach, and the two sites will develop further in the coming months, with a full opening next summer.”

Reducing congestion and costs

The park and ride site offers financial and logistical benefits for workers, with services currently running from locations such as Lowestoft, Pakefield Village, Martlesham Park and Ride, Ipswich Railway Station, and Saxmundham Railway Station.

Mike New, Senior Project Manager for Site Delivery, who uses the facility, said:

“I have been able to arrange my schedule to suit the current timetable, and I enjoy the 30% reduction in travel costs – it’s a big financial saving.

“It’s also nice being able to sit back and relax on my way to and from the ACA.

“The park and ride sites are an obvious requirement for Sizewell C, and they’re a really important way to transport our workforce safely, and limit traffic on East Suffolk roads.”

Future developments

The southern park and ride site, near Wickham Market, is expected to open in phases over the coming months and will also eventually service more than 100 zero-emission buses.

Sizewell C continues pursuing infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Two Village Bypass, the 6.5km Sizewell Link Road, and improvements to key junctions on the A12.

The team is working closely with Suffolk County Council and local stakeholders to manage traffic safely and efficiently during ongoing construction, with updates available on the Sizewell C Works Tracker website.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.