Sizewell C in Suffolk has been given the green light by the government
The Business Secretary has granted development consent
Last updated 20th Jul 2022
Plans to build a controversial third nuclear power plant on the Suffolk coast at Sizewell have been approved by the Business Secretary.
Kwasi Kwarteng has approved what's called development consent for Sizewell C.
The multibillion-pound project is intended to generate enough low-carbon electricity to supply six million homes.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by NNB Nuclear Generation in May 2020 and accepted for examination the following month.
The inspectorate’s chief executive, Sarah Richards, said: “The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them.
“This examination took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions, and the examining authority worked hard to ensure that local people, the local authorities – East Suffolk District and Suffolk County Council – and other interested parties were able to fully participate.
“The examining authority listened and gave full consideration to local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making its recommendation.”
East Suffolk Council has acknowledged the decision and will review a lengthy report into the development over the coming days and weeks.
The project will now move into the next phase focussed on 'delivery and discharging requirements'.
The authority says it recognises the challenges that will come with building a third nuclear plant.
Councillor Craig Rivett, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “East Suffolk Council looks forward to continuing working with the applicant, key stakeholders and the local community to ensure that appropriate mitigation is in place to help lessen the impacts of the project during the construction phase.”
Opposition
Campaigners have been set against a third reactor on the coast with many arguing it'll damage the wildlife, adding the local infrastructure will not be able to cope with the influx of machinery required to build another reactor.
They had called for this decision to be put off until after the Conservative Leadership election was complete and new Prime Minister in place.
Stop Sizewell C have said: “The government has been forced to ram through a damaging project to shore up its energy strategy but the fact that the Planning Inspectorate recommended Sizewell C be refused consent is a huge victory for all of us.
"The wrong decision has been made but it’s not the end of our campaign to Stop Sizewell C.
"Not only will we be looking closely at appealing this decision, we'll continue to challenge every aspect of Sizewell C, because - whether it is the impact on consumers, the massive costs and delays, the outstanding technical questions or the environmental impacts - it remains a bad project and a very bad risk.“
The Green Party nationally and locally has echoed the voices of campaigners and environmental charities in its opposition to the news that a Development Consent Order (DCO) has been granted for the building of Sizewell C on the environmentally sensitive Suffolk coast.
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “There are much cheaper and less damaging technologies available to supply the power we need; at a cost of at least £20bn this outdated design is also far too slow to help solve our climate and energy emergencies.
"The stated development time is 12-15 years but we have little confidence in the timescale given the current two year construction delay at Hinckley Point. The country needs investment in renewable energy and insulation at scale to address the cost of living and climate crises, not outdated and unproven technology that will be a drain on bill payers for the next 75 years.
"Even Lord Deben, Chairman of the Climate Change Committee is expressing doubts about EDF Energy and how qualified they are to build this design of nuclear power station.”
"We have opposed Sizewell C throughout the planning process and will continue to do so.'' said Julian Cusack, Chair of Suffolk Coastal Greens.
"But if it does go ahead, we will be looking to East Suffolk Council (ESC) to step up to the plate and ensure that EDF complies with all the planning conditions placed on it.'
"We call on the leadership of the Council to set up robust and transparent processes to ensure they are not rolled over by EDF."
Campaigners have vowed to keep working against the development in the hope this decision can be overturned.