It is an exceptional time for town and parish councils over and above just being busy. The scale, pace and cumulative nature of infrastructure development in Suffolk is placing increasing pressure on councillors, officers and local communities.
Additionally, councils have a responsibility to employees’ wellbeing – we have some guidance in this article.
Why Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) can feel overwhelming, and no councillor or officer can carry the weight of these processes alone.
Suffolk is a hub for NSIPs, with around 19 projects currently approved, submitted or in the pipeline. Most NSIP work is front-loaded at the start of the process. This means councillors often have to review large amounts of technical information during the pre-application stage, and it can be daunting.
Practical ways to manage the NSIP workload
Sharing the burden can take some of the stress out of your workload. Working with neighbouring towns and parishes, your district council and Suffolk County Council also gives you the chance to share knowledge and expertise – and avoid duplicating work.
Use the resources available – you do not have to do everything from scratch. The Getting to Grips with NSIPs guide is here to help. These resources are designed to save you time and stress.
Protecting your time is important during busy periods. Set boundaries if you need to – this could mean avoiding work emails after 7pm, keeping one or two evenings each week meeting-free, protecting time with family and friends, and scheduling regular breaks during the day. You can even avoid types of activities that could add to your stress, e.g. switch your busy public meetings for more relaxed drop-ins.
Coping with challenging public meetings and consultations
For example, after a heated meeting or challenging interaction, give yourself a short break before moving on to the next task. You could:
Sit quietly or find somewhere away from your desk to practice deep breathing for a minute.
Make a drink.
Go for a short walk in the fresh air.
If you're tempted to fire back a response to a hostile email straight away, step away from your desk and take a few deep breaths. Creating a pause before reacting can help reduce stress and make it easier to respond calmly and professionally.
If you do this training, you will be informed about the merits of suggesting that Chairs and Vice Chairs also cover this training to help them manage challenging conversations.
Protecting your energy during demanding periods
You need to prioritise rest, especially at busy and stressful times. Although the temptation may be to work through lunch, try to give yourself at least 30 minutes away from your desk to decompress
Start with the customer – find out what they want and give it to them.
We are lucky enough to live in a region with beautiful coasts and countryside. It's a cliché, but getting out into nature really does help calm your mind and gives you the space to recharge. Even a short walk outdoors can help you reduce stress and improve focus.
Support available for councils involved in NSIPs
In May 2026, Sizewell C Community Fund awarded funding to Suffolk Mind to provide mental health support to residents in Leiston, Saxmundham and surrounding villages. To self-refer and find out if you are eligible for free counselling and anxiety management support, go to the Suffolk Mind website.
Suffolk Mind also offers workplace training.
The NHS has produced 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing.
If you are finding the responsibilities challenging, there are resources like Mental Health First Aid training. As the NSIP work is so intense, it might be an idea for a colleague who is not involved in the project/s can do the training as it is a big responsibility.
You could also do training in how to have challenging conversations.
This is another helpful resource for mental health support.
Guidance from SALC regarding managing people and mental health training.
This Suffolk focused website offers more guidance for small organisations including town and parish councils: https://goodhealthatwork.co.uk.
You can contact SALC via the Members Portal or email engagement@suffolk-alc.gov.uk for further guidance.
You can also contact a clerk whose council is experienced in the NSIP process, to learn from what helped them.