Sizewell C: Government grants consent to EDF Energy's new £20bn nuclear plant on Suffolk coast

An image of what the new Sizewell C nuclear power station would look like. Credit: EDF Energy
An image of what Sizewell C in Suffolk would look like. Credit: Sizewell C

A new £20bn nuclear power plant at Sizewell on the Suffolk coast has been granted development consent by the government - despite a recommendation by the Planning Inspectorate that it should be rejected.

French energy company EDF wants to build the two-reactor Sizewell C plant next to its existing Sizewell B facility, claiming it could power up to six million homes. A decision by the government had been repeatedly delayed, and earlier this month was postponed again.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the business secretary gave the project development consent, overriding advice from the Planning Inspectorate that the project should be refused because of concerns over water supply and the impact on wildlife habitats.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy must grant consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Opponents of the project have vowed to fight on, adding: "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.“

Green MP Caroline Lucas called the approval "a shameful decision", and branded the plant a "massively costly white elephant".

Carly Vince, Sizewell C’s chief planning officer, said: “I am delighted that, after months of careful consideration, the government has given planning consent for Sizewell C. It is a big endorsement of our proposals and supports our view that this is the right project in the right place."

She said the company would work closely with people in the area to "minimise the impacts of construction and maximise the huge opportunities for the area".

She added: “Sizewell C will be good for the region, creating thousands of opportunities for local people and businesses. It will boost local biodiversity and leave a legacy Suffolk can be proud of.”

In January, the government announced £100m of funding to support Sizewell C's continue

d development, with the move intended to attract further financing from private investors.

The proposed Sizewell C power plant will be built next to Sizewell B at a cost of around £20 billion. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The Suffolk station is part of a fleet of new nuclear power plants that form a key part of the government's energy strategy, along with offshore wind and hydrogen.

But the plans have prompted protests from environmentalists, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who warn it will be built on the Minsmere nature reserve, endangering more than 6,000 species.

Earlier in July, the French government announced the state was taking full control of EDF, in a drive to boost its domestic nuclear expansion.

What is Sizewell C?

Sizewell C is a new nuclear power station set to be built next to Sizewell B which began operating in 1995.

French energy company EDF, which is behind the project, claim the plant will supply power to six million homes. It says it will be a 3.2-gigawatt power station which is able to provide reliable low-carbon electricity which does not rely on the weather.

Sizewell C would be built next to Sizewell B on the Suffolk coast at a cost of around £20 billion.

The EPR reactor design has been approved by the UK’s nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

Once built, Sizewell C will generate low-carbon electricity for at least 60 years and will employ 900 people, in addition to the thousands of jobs needed for maintenance outages.

EDF says Sizewell C will save nine million tonnes of CO2 emissions for every year of its operation.

Carly Vince, Sizewell C’s chief planning officer, said: “I am delighted that, after months of careful consideration, the government has given planning consent for Sizewell C. It is a big endorsement of our proposals and supports our view that this is the right project in the right place."

She said the company would work closely with people in the area to "minimise the impacts of construction and maximise the huge opportunities for the area".

She added: “Sizewell C will be good for the region, creating thousands of opportunities for local people and businesses. It will boost local biodiversity and leave a legacy Suffolk can be proud of.”

Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, Dr Doug Parr, said: “The contrast between dynamic, cost-cutting and innovative technologies in the renewables sector and the limping behemoths of new nuclear power could barely be more striking.

“Sizewell C represents all that’s been wrong about energy policy. A nuclear company, saddled with problems – from failing reactors to having to be nationalised – is getting a stitched-up deal behind closed doors leading to extra costs on energy bills, unmanageable waste for future generations and an expensive white elephant project.

“That it’s trashing an important nature reserve is an unwanted bonus.

“Rather than wasting time and money on this red herring energy solution, the Government should throw everything at making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable renewables the backbone of our energy system.

“Whatever else is going on in UK politics at the moment, there’s no sign of a fresh start here.”

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