https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk-sizewell-c-and-wylfa-newydd-1-6840428

Special Report

‘People deserve to see the reality’: Do Sizewell C images capture true impact on beauty spot?

PUBLISHED: 09:55 16 September 2020 | UPDATED: 08:35 17 September 2020

The £20bn twin-reactor will be built in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Suffolk coast over the next decade if proposals by EDF are approved.

On Friday Suffolk County Council dealt the project a significant blow and said it could not support it in its current form.

Among a raft of concerns was the visual impact of the plant, which leaders fear will have “significant adverse effects” on the landscape during and after construction.

They claim the function of the protected nature area around the plant, to “conserve and enhance” natural beauty, would be put at risk, and also have concerns over plans for four additional tall pylons on site.

EDF has prepared several images of what Sizewell C could look like both during construction and when it is operating, with some featuring outlines on existing photographs to show anticipated and ‘exceptional’ scenarios.

The company said “true-to-life images of how the station will look have been presented at all stages”, adding that bespoke 3D modelling helped to educate around 10,000 people in east Suffolk on what they would see from their homes “at any point, during construction and operation”.

But organisations working to preserve the area of natural beauty (AONB) are calling for the French energy company to release fresh illustrations.

Nick Collinson of the National Trust said it is concerned the construction work, as indicated in the project’s landscape and visual assessment, will have a “major adverse and permanent impact” on the views from Dunwich Heath.

They have requested more detailed images from EDF, but note the current ones comply with minimum requirements.

“We are disappointed that images that would allow people to fully understand and appreciate the visual impacts over the 10-year construction phase in any meaningful way have not been made available,” he added.

Councillor David Wood, chairman of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB partnership, said: “Experience of other new nuclear power stations suggests that hundreds of cranes will be required for the build, this would undoubtedly have a significant negative impact on the natural beauty of nationally designated landscape. The AONB would welcome more representative imagery for the construction and decommissioning phases.”

Campaigners at Stop Sizewell C have drawn comparisons between EDF’s visualisations and ones prepared following pressure from Anglesey County Council for the Wylfa Newydd plant.

Developers Horizon were tasked with producing more ‘true-to-life’ images after council chiefs felt the original visualisations failed to accurately depict the anticipated visual impact. Hitachi, the firm behind it, has just announced it is pulling out of the £13bn project.

“Given EDF’s claim to be a good neighbour, it’s a big fail not to show local people what it would be like living next to the biggest construction site in Europe, should Sizewell C go ahead,” said Alison Downes, on behalf of the group.

“Anyone who has been to Hinkley will know just how shocking the construction site is, and the people of east Suffolk deserve to see the reality.”

EDF says good practice guidance is not specific a

bout how any development or its construction phase should be visualised, and said the images were produced in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The highest point on each of the images (C1) is meant to show the maximum height reached by temporary buildings and tower/mobile cranes used to construct the main platform.

In the case of the view from RSPB Minsmere, the expected height is earmarked at 160m above ground but if it is ‘exceptional’, it could be as high as 250m. Other lower-level outlines are meant to suggest heights of workshops and storage facilities, plus accommodation blocks.

During construction, EDF plans to roll out mitigation measures such as minimum lighting and remodelling the northern mound to screen lower-level infrastructure from beach views.

EDF said landscape and visual effects during Sizewell C’s operation stage have been assessed as “not significant”, stating they would only occur over localised sections of the AONB and Heritage Coast.

But this has been dismissed by East Suffolk Council chiefs in their draft representation to the planning inspector as a “highly dubious and unsatisfactory conclusion”.

Council bosses do, however, acknowledge that once construction ceases the landscape used for it will begin to recover.

Within the Sizewell C documents, visualisations of what the plant may look like when finished are also included, and CGI videos have also been produced. Stop Sizewell C claims these are “simplistic”.

An EDF spokeswoman added: “We have been open and transparent as the plans for Sizewell C have developed and have taken on board feedback during the four stages of public consultation that spanned eight years.

“The feedback we had from the many public exhibitions we held was that the 3D model helped people understand likely visual impact of the project.”

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sizewell-c-independent-economy-report-1-6824930

Consultants challenge EDF over economic benefits and jobs Sizewell C will bring

PUBLISHED: 05:30 07 September 2020 | UPDATED: 09:42 07 September 2020

Richard Cornwell

EDF Energy has said that Sizewell C will give the county’s economy a £125million a year boost and create 25,000 job opportunities during the 10-year construction period and 900 skilled jobs when the power plant is operational.

But an independent review of EDF’s Economic Statement, assessing the impacts of Sizewell C on Suffolk’s economy, by research and analysis consultancy Development Economics – commissioned by the Stop Sizewell C campaign – has criticised key aspects of the research and evidence submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

EDF though insists its project will deliver investment, jobs, skills, education and training for decades to come.

And it says its Economic Statement in its planning application is fully compliant with relevant national policy.

Development Economics though claimed some aspects were “exaggerated” and “unrealistic”. It questioned EDF’s claim of up to “2,410 jobs for Suffolk residents”, saying this included people travelling from up to 90 minutes away, which covers large population centres in Norfolk and Essex.

It said these local workers will be the overwhelming source of lower skilled roles, expected to fill 90% of jobs in ‘Site Support’ – cleaners, bus drivers and security guards – compared with only 8% of roles in professional and management. At peak construction 76% of the workforce will come from further away still and will have to be accommodated in the area.

The consultants said workers recruited from existing businesses in the area would threaten “both profitability and, in some cases, viability of these businesses.”

They also contend that Sizewell C is unlikely to have a significant impact on local unemployment and believe that targets of hiring “up to 480 unemployed or economically inactive workers” locally are over-ambitious.

EDF though insists thousands of local people stand to gain well paid employment from the construction and operation of Sizewell C, just as they have at Sizewell B and at Hinkley Point C (HPC) in Somerset.

At peak, it says, Sizewell C will bring in around 2,400 jobs for Suffolk residents on the main site – including semi-skilled mechanical operatives, electricians, lifting operatives, welders, pipefitters, cabling operatives, fitters, steel-fixers, drivers, lifting operatives, timber and formwork operatives, maintenance and administrative staff, on top of the professional/managerial roles.

The company says there will be a wide range of jobs available in all areas of the project and it is working with Suffolk County Council to ensure the types of roles with genuine long term legacy for the region are promoted locally – including critical civils and mechanical and electrical engineering jobs.

It accepts some people will leave their current jobs to work for Sizewell C but employers are likely to fill such vacancies – a regular feature of running a business.

An EDF Energy spokesman said: “Sizewell C will deliver jobs, skills, education and training for decades to come while helping to tackle the climate crisis. Thousands of local people stand to gain well paid employment from the construction and operation of Sizewell C, just as we have experienced at Sizewell B and at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. We remain as committed as ever to making the most of Sizewell C for Suffolk.”

Development Economics suggests the Suffolk Coast Destination Management Organisation’s (DMO) predicted losses of £24-40 million/year and 400 jobs will be an underestimate of the true impact on tourism.

Harry Young, chair of the DMO said: “EDF Energy’s tourism study produced similar and worrying findings to the 2019 DMO report, but with no economic impact calculation. The predicted reduction in visitor numbers suggests an existential threat to many businesses within this key industry. The vast project, and intended road led strategy, would impact the visitor experience and alter the way many perceive the area, and we know that the majority of visitors come for peace and tranquillity.

“If the project goes ahead, giving tourism businesses yet more challenge after the toughest of years, EDF’s promised mitigating Tourism Fund must be truly substantial. However most businesses would prefer to avoid harm rather than repair damage.”

EDF is working with organisations such as the local authorities on its proposals and mitigation including a Tourism Fund. It says previous studies have found no evidence that developments like Sizewell C deter tourists – indeed there is no evidence that Sizewell B had a substantial effect on the sector within the Suffolk Coastal area, and so far the HPC project shows that fears about the effects on tourism have not materialised.

In East Suffolk tourism accommodation will be used off season and spare capacity will be filled in peak months.

Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C said: “This report should give serious pause to any of our elected representatives who believe EDF’s hype that the benefits of Sizewell C will outweigh the negative impacts.”

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-09-05/campaigners-call-on-all-suffolk-residents-to-submit-comments-on-sizewell-c-before-deadline-at-end-of-month

A campaign group has encouraged all residents to comment on plans to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell on the Suffolk coast before a deadline is reached at the end of September.

Stop Sizewell C held a meeting at Theberton church on Saturday, 5 September, to hear the views of local residents.

EDF claim the new power station will create 2,400 jobs in the county if plans are approved by the government.

The proposals are now with the Planning Inspectorate, but comments can be submitted until the 30 September by those registered as an ‘interested party’.

Alison Downes, Executive Director of Stop Sizewell C, urged residents to share their views:

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What do EDF say?

The energy company, already involved in the construction of Hinkley Point in Somerset has emphasised the benefit the power station will bring to Suffolk’s economy.

A statement said: “Sizewell C will deliver jobs, skills, education and training for decades to come while helping to tackle the climate crisis.

“Thousands of local people stand to gain well paid employment from the construction and operation of Sizewell C, just as we have experienced at Sizewell B and at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

“We remain as committed as ever to making the most of Sizewell C for Suffolk.”

EDF also highlighted a letter signed by ten education and business leaders supporting the project.

The letter, backed by people like Dr Nikos Savvas, principal of West Suffolk College, said: “Our schools, colleges and youth organisations are working with the existing power station Sizewell B and the Sizewell C project.

“We want to develop home-grown talent and help them stay and develop their skills in the region so they can live, work and bring up their families in an area with a bright future.”

The plan is also backed by Adam Dalby, from Brafe Engineering in Woodbridge, who currently works on Sizewell B and said the company “would like to work with Sizewell C”.

He added: “It’s a boost for the company, just the fact that something’s being built in the UK of such high engineering value.

“There is a skills gap in the UK, so a project like Sizewell C can only benefit that in terms of the skills development and the opportunities it can provide.”

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Saturday’s meeting was chaired by broadcaster Bill Turnbull, former host of BBC Breakfast, who lives in East Suffolk.

He said the region’s beauty means residents should do “everything we can” to protect the area.

Not all local residents have opposed the construction of Sizewell C; environmentalist Zion Lights said the power plant could be a chance to shift the country away from fossil fuels.

She said: “The UK energy mix still mostly consists of fossil fuels, with around 40% reliance on gas, and intermittent use of coal. These polluting energy sources not only drive global warming, but they also lead to increased air pollution and have impacts on local, often disadvantaged communities who have to live near these highly polluting plants.

“In contrast, nuclear is a clean and reliable source of energy that can help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

“We have to think beyond localism and consider the impact of a warming planet on the rest of the country – and the rest of the world. Without nuclear, we cannot wean ourselves off of fossil fuels – Germany’s energy experiment has shown us that.

“The alternatives are hugely environmentally destructive and also take a significant toll on humans. That’s why we need Sizewell C, and then Moorside to be built.”