SPL at CERN

The existing complex of accelerators at CERN is capable to provide the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with the beam required to reach its nominal characteristics. Higher performance injectors will however be necessary to exceed this limit and maximize the physics reach of the LHC. As a first step, the construction of a new 160 MeV H- linac (Linac4) has started, and the study of a 4 GeV Superconducting Proton Linac (SPL) is being pursued in view of submitting a project proposal by mid-2012. The basic design choices of the SPL are described, as well as its potential interest for other physics programmes. The goals and plans of the on-going study are explained.