Sizewell C plans submitted to the Government

Plans to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk have today been sent to the Government.

EDF Energy has submitted a Development Consent Order (DCO) which will now be considered by the planning inspectorate.

If approved, EDF’s multi-billion-pound vision for Sizewell C will create thousands of jobs, bring huge economic stimulus to the East of England and strengthen the UK supply chain following the Coronavirus pandemic.

As well as 25,000 jobs and 1,000 apprenticeships, Sizewell C will supply around six million homes with always-on, low carbon electricity made in the UK. It will support the expansion of renewables and improve the UK’s national resilience by reducing the need for energy imports.

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson CBE, Managing Director, Sizewell C said: “Sizewell C is a net zero infrastructure project ready to kick-start the economy following the Coronavirus crisis. It will offer thousands of high-quality job opportunities and long-term employment for people living in Suffolk and it will strengthen the nuclear supply chain across the country.

“On top of the economic benefits, Sizewell C will avoid nine million tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere each year. The project will play a key role in lowering emissions while helping the UK keep control of its low carbon future.”

News of the DCO submission has been welcomed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, who have been working with EDF to build a robust supply chain to enable local companies to work on the project.

Chief executive John Dugmore said: “The submission of the DCO marks a key step forward in the building of Sizewell C. The construction and operation of Sizewell C has the potential to further strengthen Suffolk and indeed the region’s position as a key contributor to the Government’s zero-carbon power generation aspirations.

“Throughout the many consultations held prior to this point, Suffolk Chamber has actively supported the Sizewell C project as essentially being good for the jobs and skills prospects of the East Anglian workforce for decades to come.”

It is estimated that up to 70% of the construction value of the project will be spent with firms across the UK, including in the East of England, Wales, and in the North.

Suffolk Chamber has also welcomed the news that Sizewell C’s sister project at Hinkley Point C in Somerset has exceeded its projected £1.5bn boost to the local and regional economies, with £1.7bn being spent by EDF Energy to date.

“We very much see this as the benchmark for what businesses in our county and region should reasonably expect from this strategically vital project,” added John.

Suffolk Chamber has run the Sizewell C Supply chain portal for a number of years and recently expanded the scale and scope of its team to ensure that as many firms from our area were as ready as possible to win contracts from the Tier One companies commissioned by EDF Energy.

“The next stage for us is to work with EDF Energy to start mapping out how local and regional firms can be best placed to take advantage of some of the initial tenders that will be issued once the Planning Inspectorate has completed the examination stage of the project,” explained John.

The application for the Development Consent Order (DCO) was delayed for two months in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances created by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Extra measures will now be put in place to make it easier for local communities to scrutinise the proposals once they are published. These include extending the pre-examination period to allow more time for interested parties to register with the Planning Inspectorate.

The application for a Development Consent Order follows four rounds of public consultation which began in 2012. More than 10,000 residents and organisations in Suffolk have contributed their views and helped to shape the final proposals.

Are you READY for Sizewell C?

It is estimated that around £1.5 billion will be spent in the Suffolk region during the construction phase.

The project will make an estimated lifetime contribution of £4 billion to the regional economy.

During the construction phase around a third of the Sizewell C workforce will come from the local area.

Looking ahead, 900 high-skilled jobs will be based in Suffolk once the plant is operational.

The project is working with local charities to ensure the widest possible access to jobs and is funding local initiatives to promote social mobility.

If you have registered your interest in working towards delivering Sizewell C, now is the time to ensure you have the correct accreditation’s in place.

Please explore this website for more information and guidance on how to align your business to work on a new nuclear build.