Supreme Court refuses appeal by anti-Sizewell C campaigners
Campaigners have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the plant
Campaigners fighting against plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Suffolk Coast are vowing to continue their fight.
It comes after the Supreme Court yesterday denied protest group Together Against Sizewell C's (TASC) application for an appeal against the plans.
TASC had challenged the Government’s decision to give planning permission for the power station in July 2022.
Among their claims, the campaign group argued that the Secretary of State was wrong to grant a Development Consent Order (DCO) without first assessing the environmental impact of proposals for Sizewell C’s water supply.
Three Supreme Court judges said that the latest claims did not raise an arguable point of law.
Their decision ends legal action which was first launched in August 2022.
Since then, the group’s arguments have been rejected in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and now the Supreme Court.
"Extremely disappointed"
In response to the Supreme Court's recent announcement, a TASC spokesperson said: "Together Against Sizewell C is extremely disappointed that our application for an appeal hearing at the Supreme Court has been denied.
"However, the fact remains the same – Sizewell C, which is situated in the driest drought-prone region of the country, still has no guaranteed sustainable mains water supply essential for its slated 60 years of operation and the full environmental impacts of getting mains water to the site are yet to be assessed.
"Although it may have been deemed lawful to build a nuclear power station without a mains water supply and whose sister project, Hinkley Point C, is now expected to cost £46 billion, one must not only question the UK’s planning system but also this government’s logic to have already ploughed £2.5 billion of taxpayer funds into a project as risky as Sizewell C.
"TASC is appalled that the Office for Nuclear Regulation has granted a nuclear site licence, despite there being no final design of the sea defences needed to keep Sizewell C, sited on one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines, safe until all spent fuel is removed from site - now expected to be 2160.
"The continued uncertainties around funding, lack of permits, growing local opposition offer many opportunities which we are exploring. TASC are reviewing our options, and we are certainly not giving up."
What do bosses at Sizewell C say?
Sizewell C Managing Director Julia Pyke said: “We are delighted that the claims have been comprehensively rejected in the courts and that this long-running legal action is now at an end.
“We know the majority of East Suffolk residents support our project and are looking forward to the jobs and development opportunities it will bring. We will continue to listen closely to local communities and we are as determined as ever to ensure that Sizewell C delivers for them.”
What does the government say?
Ministers have said the multibillion-pound project will create 10,000 highly-skilled jobs, with its go-ahead being welcomed by unions and the nuclear industry.