What changes are in store for Suffolk in 2026?

Suffolk is going through a significant period of change, and 2026 is unlikely to slow down.

From Sea Link and Sizewell, to elections that may or may not happen, here are five things set to dominate the agenda in the next 12 months.

Suffolk was meant to have three elections this year.

However, the inaugural mayoral elections in May 2026 were postponed at the beginning of December until May 2028.

The other local elections have now also been thrown into doubt after the government said councils could ask to postpone them if they feel under pressure from local government reorganisation.

A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: "Ministers have now asked 63 councils going through reorganisation to set out their views on the potential postponement of their local election, and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver reorganisation in their area.

A full council meeting will be held on 12 January to debate delaying the election.

Opposition councillors want the elections to go ahead.

"It is essential that voters be allowed to vote - The government seems afraid to face the electorate," says Chris Hudson, Leader of the Reform UK group at Suffolk County Council.

Keith Scarff, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said: "I really don't know what the government is up to in terms of reorganisation of local government, but it doesn't look very good at the moment."

Green MP for Waveney Valley Adrian Ramsay said: "If the elections are cancelled again in 2026, there will be even bigger questions to answer on the accountability of the whole council shake-up plan."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously said: "With landmark reforms happening at pace in councils moving from a wasteful two-tier system to single unitary authorities, ministers have today [18 December] written to affected local authorities after some said elections could divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation – with new councillors serving only briefly before their councils are replaced with new ones."

The county council is a Conservative-run authority, and party chairman and MP Kevin Hollinrake was quite clear on what he wants to happen during a recent visit to Suffolk.

He said: "There is not a precedent for more than a one-year postponement, so we are very clear that we want to see these elections take place in 2026."

Ipswich Borough Council previously told the BBC it expects the vote to go ahead.

The government said: "Councils must demonstrate exceptional reasons and ministers will scrutinise every case carefully."

In May 2026, the planning inspectorate is set to finish its examination of National Grid's Sea Link project, and there could be a final decision on whether it will go ahead in the months that follow.

Under the plans, 90 miles (145km) of undersea electricity cable will be laid, which comes ashore near Sandwich in Kent and between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

There will also be an additional substation at Saxmundham.

National Grid will also have a busy year in Suffolk with its other projects:

• A public consultation into the Lion Link project opens in January. Lion Link would see underwater cables connecting the UK and the Netherlands, coming ashore at Walberswick

• The Norwich to Tilbury pylon project, which runs through Suffolk, will undergo its public examination by the planning inspector

There has been significant local opposition to all the above plans.

When the Orwell Bridge is shut or partially closed, it can cause significant congestion and plans for a northern bypass have been discussed for years.

Is 2026 the year talk turns to action?

Suffolk County Council said it has been holding meetings over the last 12 months with key stakeholders to "identify solutions".

It went on to add: "We are currently awaiting clarification from the government on whether it still requires significant housing delivery and/or match funding before considering any Ipswich Northern Route project."

Labour MP for Ipswich, Jack Abbott, wants to see action and said: "We can't just keep waiting, hoping someone else is going to fix this for us. It is finally time that Suffolk County Council get a grip, starts acting decisively and delivers these plans that people are desperate for."

Green MP for Waveney Valley Adrian Ramsay recognises the pressure the Orwell bridge closing caused, but does not think a northern bypass is the solution.

He said: "I want to see a more sustainable approach."

The construction of Sizewell C will continue after the project to build a nuclear power station on Suffolk's coast secured all its financial backing in 2025.

Here are some of the milestones expected in 2026:

• Plans for a new college on the coast for students aged 16 and older could get the go-ahead. The permanent facility and apprentice hub in Leiston is being funded by the Sizewell C project. The first students are expected in September 2027

• The two new roundabouts on the A12 at Yoxford and Friday Street were due to be "operational by mid 2026" according to the Sizewell C works tracker.

• The beach at Sizewell will have temporary closures for the first three months of the year while temporary marine structures and an outfall pipe are built

• In the new year, plans will be revealed for the Sizewell C bus depot at Ransomes Industrial Estate. The development will house up to 160 buses and include areas for refuelling and cleaning

In 2026, we will say goodbye to the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board.

The two boards commission and pay for NHS services, including GPs, hospitals, community nursing, mental health, dentistry and the ambulance service.

They will be replaced by one board called NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB, which will come into operation in April.

Ed Garratt OBE, chief executive of the new board, said at the time of his appointment: "I am honoured to lead our new organisation and look forward to supporting the excellent work of our hard-working staff to improve health outcomes across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The government announced last March it was restructuring ICBs, which included halving the number of staff and jobs could go across Norfolk and Suffolk.

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