Decision on Sizewell C nuclear reactor delayed
The government has now set a date of July 8 to announce its decision on whether the reactor will be built
A decision on whether to allow the construction of a third nuclear reactor on the Suffolk coast has been delayed until later this year.
The government originally planned to announce whether it had granted planning consent for Sizewell C on May 25.
But in a statement submitted to parliament today, Business Minister Paul Scully said: "I have decided to set a new deadline of no later than 8 July 2022 for deciding this application."
"This is to ensure there is sufficient time to fully consider further information provided by the applicant and interested parties in response to the Secretary of State’s post-examination consultation.
"The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously indicated he is in favour of building Sizewell C, near Leiston.
Earlier this year the government announced it would take a 20% stake in the new power station, if it's approved.
The remaining 80% of the £20bn budget for Sizewell C would be paid for by energy firm EDF and private investors in the project.
Ministers are in favour of building the power station as it would contribute to the UK's energy security at a time when gas prices are surging, partly because of the war in Ukraine.
However the project is controversial.
Construction will require thousands of people and heavy machinery to operate near an area of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There is currently no permanent solution for radioactive waste produced by Sizewell A and B, with most of it being placed in storage ponds on the site.
The construction of a similar reactor at Hinckley Point in Somerset is facing delays, with the budget overrunning to £22bn.
Alison Downes of campaign group Stop Sizewell C said: "This delay is down to the dozens of really difficult problems with the Sizewell C application - including water supply, transport, coastal erosion and biodiversity."
"More importantly it questions a major cornerstone of the government's Energy Security Strategy. The dinosaur that is Sizewell C has already been 11 years in the making, and a lengthy construction is still some way off if it ever begins.
"Especially in light of the failure of the Taishan EPR reactor, the government must stop this overpriced, lumbering project and focus on cheaper, faster, reliable alternatives that will cut energy costs and fight climate change."