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Representation by Adnams Plc (Adnams Plc)

Date submitted
17 January 2020
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. Adnams is a leading brewer, drinks and hospitality business in East Anglia. It owns and operates a major brewery and distillery in Southwold, Suffolk, a distribution centre and vehicle fleet that supports its own 44 pubs, inns and hotels and 13 retail stores. Adnams also serves over 1,000 free trade pubs and bars in East Anglia, 4,000 pubs nationally and exports to more than 22 countries around the world. It directly employs 550 people and has more than 1,700 suppliers and a turnover of over £78 million. 2. Adnams is very much associated with the Suffolk Heritage Coast and countryside, which is key to its international and national reputation and its attractiveness to residents and visitors. Adnams and Southwold are synonymous. 3. Adnams has a strong environmental and sustainability record having won two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and 15 other sustainability awards. Adnams is considered to be a sustainable pioneer in the UK and supports renewable energy. However, Adnams is not supportive of development of onshore infrastructure in rural East Suffolk including the AONB without full consultation of all the stakeholders and the involvement of the community in local decision making. 4. Adnams is concerned that both the perception and reality of East Suffolk as a highly attractive visitor destination could be damaged by the onshore impacts of the Scottish Power projects (East Anglia One North and East Anglia Two) and the five other major energy projects which are planned for the area. Potential negative effects could impact turnover, profitability, jobs, supply chains as well as the environment and the high value visitor economy. 5. Part of Adnams’ concern relates to the impact upon the A12 which is the only major route to East Suffolk. The A12 is already heavily congested particularly in peak holiday periods. Overloading a rural road network will damage both the perception and reality of East Suffolk as a tranquil and attractive visitor destination. 6. Adnams has concerns about the socio-economic effects of the Scottish Power projects, and the other five major energy projects currently planned. Any issues should be robustly and cumulatively assessed and the findings of the Independent report commissioned by the Suffolk Destination Management Organisation are important to recognise. 7. Given the likelihood of significant damage to the Suffolk visitor economy and the absence of a robust and independent assessment of the potential damage, Adnams objects to the Scottish Power projects as they stand.