A £250m package that is going to benefit local communities has now been activated. This is going to be available in phases over a construction period. Andrew Bowie, the Minister for Nuclear Power and Renewables has since visited the site. Business owners have welcomed the news and said that it is going to have a long-lasting, positive impact on the region. Sizewell C has triggered the DCO, or Developmental Consent Order, which opens the path for construction. The 3.2GW nuclear power station is going to be established on the Suffolk coast. The project was originally granted permission in 2022 and while preparatory work has begun, a lot of the obligations needed satisfying before work could commence. The obligations, as set out in the DCO document have been signed off by the East Suffolk Council and the Suffolk County Council. They allow a range of activities to take place, ranging from road surveys to Governance Groups. They have all since been satisfied, allowing the stage of construction to begin.
Nigel Cann and Julia Pyke, who are both managing directors at Sizewell C have said that this is a significant project and it is a big step in general for Britain’s energy security. They have had a good year of pre-commencement work and since then, they have been working with a range of local partners and organisations. This is to ensure that everyone is on the same page when the next phase of the project commences.
Even though Sizewell C is going to be a linchpin of the energy system, it’s more than just a power station. Entering the construction phase as a whole is going to be a game-changer. It’s going to help boost employee skills while enhancing the local environment. New clean energy is also going to be developed.
Sizewell C is going to play a major part in the grand scheme of things. It’s going to be responsible for generating low-carbon energy for over six million homes. Andrew Bowie, the Nuclear Minister visited the Sizewell C construction site to mark the project’s latest milestone.
The aim is to provide over 24GW of power by 2050. This comes after the second-biggest expansion for nuclear power was announced, in 70 years. This is going to bring down energy bills and it is going to boost the energy security Britain has. Thousands of people are going to benefit from having new jobs and a lot of apprenticeships are also going to be created. Thai demonstrates the reward that comes with backing nuclear power.
In 2023, Sizewell C, the Government and EDF launched a process to try and bring private investors into the project. They triggered the DCO and although entering the phase of construction is not dependent on the final investment decision, constructive decisions that are taking place with qualified investors are ongoing. A final decision is expected to take place later this year.
By commencing construction, £250m worth of funding has been granted to the local community. This is going to be available in several phases, as the construction phase of the project continues. This funding includes £100m for the environment, £12m for local tourism support, £23m for community projects and £12m for housing. This is going to support both private housing, as well as tourist accommodation. It appears that Sizewell C are determined that the opportunities that arise from construction should spread as far and wide as possible. With a long-standing partnership with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, as well as MENTA, this is going to bring several benefits to the region.
Sizewell C is going to deliver 1500 apprenticeships while supporting the creation of thousands of jobs. This is going to span across the country, with one-third of the construction workforce coming from within the local area. The project is going to invest in the skills of local people, ensuring that there is talent ready to not only support Sizewell C, but also the future nuclear ambitions of the UK.
The project will have a huge impact on local supply chains, and several business leaders have welcomed the news of the next phase.
Jack Nicholls, who is the Managing Director of Tru7 Group has said that as a local employer of well over 350 people, this is going to provide a lasting legacy for the region. The construction is going to give Suffolk businesses the chance to invest in people and their skills, and they are so happy to be able to play a role in this project.
Tim Capey, from Poundfield Precast, has said they are truly excited about this development. The scale of the project is going to provide many opportunities over the coming decade, and the duration of the project is going to allow even more further investment.
Mark Burrows, Commercial Director of Breheny Civil Engineering Ltd has said that this is a nationally strategic project that grants businesses the chance to showcase their talent and resources. It’s going to provide work opportunities for a number of years. They are participating in projects now on the Sizewell complex, and welcome more opportunities to get involved with. 300+ people and their families live within the geographical area that is going to be impacted by this project. They for one are looking forward to the economic, environmental and social benefits that this is going to provide.
In an attempt to ensure that local people have a voice during the construction phase, the new Sizewell C forums have also been launched. This allows residents to talk about key issues that could arise with the project over the long term. There are four main forums which are all chaired independently, allowing people to speak up while keeping everyone up to date on the latest news.
Work has started on Sizewell C, but is it all just a theatre stage for politics? There have been big fanfares and even major ceremonies which have helped to mark the start of the construction phase. The question is, does that even mean anything? In one sense, the construction has already begun. Land around the area has been dug up and lots of mature trees have been cut down to make space for the new development. One of the new entrances to the site has also been cleared. The Final Investment Decision, or FID, however, is the point where parties commit to building the station. This is several months away, so the ceremony that has taken place is nothing more than a stage for political theatre.
One thing to take note of here is that there is a clear political need for this particular project to go ahead. The government and opposition have shown that they are committed to whatever this project may cost. When you take into account the uncertainty regarding energy around the globe, and the need to move to carbon-zero energy, it’s obvious that we have to proceed regardless of the cost.
A lot of people don’t have concerns about the safety of the planet, and although there are dangers associated with nuclear generation, the experience of the country so far suggests that there is nothing to fear. It can be operated safely. Given the fact that there are two nuclear plants at Sizewell right now, that need protection from the sea, it doesn’t seem that unreasonable to put the plant there as it means that the protection given, can be shared.
There are, however, worries regarding the government and the EDF. They must be seen as being equal in terms of the project. This means equality over the way it’s going to be built, as well as the impact that it is going to have on the local community. It seems that right now, an aggressive approach is being adopted. The government and EDF are planning to cause a huge amount of damage to the environment, including damage to the Heritage Coast. This is closely linked with Minsmere and Dunwich Heath.
It didn’t have to be this way though, there were other options. The 1990 plan for Sizewell C could have been built on the same footprint that has been proposed in the past but without the damage to the environment. There were plans to use the entrance that’s already there, for Sizewell B, along with the service area. Offering alternatives for wildlife, such as part of the Aldhurst Farm is great. The point about the land that is next to the Eastbridge Marshes is that there is a huge amount of wildlife and a very rich, diverse ecosystem that stretches from Sizewell to Dunwich Heath and beyond. Creating a new, star-studded nature reserve that is two miles inland looks great on paper, but you cannot replace the area that is being taken. This would be the area that is linked directly to the coast.
The battle is unfortunately lost. The government, and any future governments are going to be keen on the project. All we can do now is hope that the new habitats are going to make up for the ones that have been lost. Nick Collinson, who is from the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths group was incredibly positive about the contribution that Sizewell can offer to the area. There are, however, still concerns amongst guardians of the countryside, such as the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and even the RSPB, and quite rightfully so.
A lot of this comes down to the fact that people haven’t been engaged. This is especially the case with local people. Community forums have been set up, but a lot of people are suspicious of them. EDF has a strong record of telling people what they are going to do, but they don’t actually listen or take concerns onboard. As a result of this, people who were once supportive of Sizewell A and B have been turned off the latest project. It’s going to take a lot to bring them back on board.
