The Secretary of State has granted development consent for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, to be sited adjacent to Sizewell B in Suffolk. The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2020 and the inspectorate had advised against granting consent because of concerns over long-term water availability and the project’s impact on protected species.
The two-unit 3.2GW plant is expected to cost upwards of £20 billion. The government has promised to set in place a so-called Regulated Asset Base (RAB) funding model for the project that will mean consumers begin to fund the project from the start of construction. The government has also taken an option on a 20% stake in the project.
Responding to the announcement of the Development Consent Order , Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union, said: “This DCO is welcome but long overdue. We now need the government to bring forward its investment decision as a matter of urgency so the project can progress.
“The nuclear ambitions set out in the British Energy Security Strategy are laudable, but they are simply words if they’re not followed by concrete action. Approving the funding for Sizewell C will send a firm signal to investors that the Government is committed to new nuclear delivering energy security and taking us to Net Zero.”