Campaigners say Sizewell C is the “wrong project at the wrong time in the wrong place” and EDF’s justification for pushing ahead is seriously flawed 

[SUFFOLK] Campaigners have slammed EDF for applying tomorrow for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build Sizewell C while the country remains under coronavirus restrictions that will disadvantage the public and likely last for most of the rest of the year. EDF is proceeding in defiance of appeals from residents, communities and influencers [1] who fear that public engagement will be seriously compromised under social distancing. 

EDF is pushing ahead into a storm of controversy over China’s involvement [2] and questions about nuclear power’s role and flexibility, with Sizewell B currently running at 50% capacity. [3] EDF is attempting to justify its submission by citing the UK’s net zero target and claiming that construction is key to the UK’s post-covid economic recovery. [4] However EDF is dependent on government approval – as yet withheld – of a “regulated asset base” model to pay for Sizewell C. [5] With the economy faltering, energy projects will need more than ever to deliver value for money, not impose a nuclear tax on consumers. 

“EDF has ridden roughshod over the lockdown” said Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C. “With restrictions set to last many months there cannot be full public participation in the planning process – even the Planning Inspectorate does not yet know how it could work. And when we finally emerge from this crisis, will our cash-strapped government support a costly behemoth and a company with such a poor construction record, and poor choice of partner as EDF? Sizewell C would be an expensive bridge to nowhere: it will suck vital funds away from the technologies and projects that are more capable of truly transforming our energy landscape.”

Stop Sizewell C’s Paul Collins said: “EDF is cynically pushing on because the case for Sizewell C is weakening daily. For EDF to say it will boost economic recovery when the project is far from shovel-ready – with neither planning consent nor the means to finance it – is astonishing. It will be at least 15 years before Sizewell C is carbon neutral, and the unsuitability and sensitivity of the site makes any argument in favour of construction as a means of economic recovery frankly insulting. With unprecedented concerns from the Environment Agency and Natural England [6] and with 300 unresolved issues with statutory consultees, [7] Sizewell C is simply the wrong project in the wrong place.”

Charles Macdowell said: “Over the last eight years, EDF has totally failed to address the very reasonable concerns of local people about this huge project. It can’t get the 10m tonnes of materials it needs here other than mainly by road, it can’t employ enough local people to benefit the area, and it will devastate tourism, businesses and everyday life in this quiet rural area. The timing of EDF’s application could not be more inappropriate; the company must surely be aware of the irony of applying to build two new nuclear reactors whilst being paid to turn off one it already has.”

Notes

1. 60 influencers wrote to the BEIS Secretary of State Alok Sharma on 31 March. Their letter was published in The Times on 28 April. For full text see – https://stopsizewellc.org/influencers-beis-31march2020/. On the same day 53 east Suffolk Town and Parish Councils wrote to EDF: https://stopsizewellc.org/campaigners-urge-no-new-action-on-sizewell-c-until-virus-crisis-over/
2. See The Sunday Times 24 May https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-great-china-dilemma-6rdmhw3wl. The Prime Minister has ordered a review on how to restrict inward Chinese investment. See https://www.ft.com/content/e2730a94-5307-4e2b-b5f5-3dcf775bb930
3. National Grid is currently paying EDF to run Sizewell B at half power for 6 weeks whilst energy demand is low. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/big-is-not-so-beautiful-in-grid-talks-to-power-down-8w0qxbtgg. Employees have privately admitted they are concerned it could be asked to turn off altogether.
4. In a letter to 54 Town and Parish Councils who had written to ask EDF to delay, the company said: “The Government regards construction as key to our economic recovery and we have enclosed a copy of a letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for your reference. We want to play our part in the recovery of Suffolk’s economy at the end of this crisis.” https://stopsizewellc.org/core/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/EDF-DCO-submission-Letter-to-Parishes-03.04.20.pdf
5. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51733117
6. Serious concerns were expressed by DEFRA agencies to the Planning Inspectorate on 20 January. See https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/sizewell-c-new-nuclear-power-station/?ipcsection=advice&ipcadvice=56199ac81e
7. Outstanding issues with Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council as at Stage 3 consultations.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sizewell-c-dco-submission-wednesday-may-27-1-6668608

Community leaders across east Suffolk, along with many influential organisations and a host of celebrities have demanded that the power giant puts its plans for the new Sizewell C twin reactor on hold until after the coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted.

They fear that current bans on public meetings and people getting together even in small groups, plus the continued closure of libraries, will prevent many from seeing the full plans, debating them and giving their views.

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter has written to Government ministers urging them to reject the planning application, known as the Development Consent Order, until after the Covid-19 crisis.

News that the application is about to be made has left them deeply disappointed and saying it is the most inappropriate time to do so.

According to The Sunday Times, EDF is to make its DCO submission on Wednesday.

The company had originally intended to submit the application to the Planning Inspectorate by the end of March.

Because of the pandemic it delayed the DCO but said this would only be for “a few weeks” and indicated that it still intended to submit the order before the end of lockdown and was talking to the inspectorate about extending the timeframe for people to comment.

The company said: “To that end we are discussing the following proposals with the Planning Inspectorate: extending the period for relevant representations during the pre-examination phase, introducing measures to make sure everybody is aware of the application when it is submitted, agreeing with the Planning Inspectorate that the examination process itself will not start until they are happy that no parties are disadvantaged.”

It says once submitted it will be at least 28 days before anything further happens while the Planning Inspectorate staff go through the huge number of documents to ensure the DCO can be accepted and registered. If submitted on Wednesday, this would mean it would be June 25 at the earliest when details of the final plans would be revealed and people could begin to read the documents.

Alison Downes, of Stop Sizewell C, said: “EDF could hardly have chosen a more inappropriate time to submit its Sizewell C application, with continuing coronavirus restrictions that threaten to disadvantage us all and controversy raging about China’s involvement.

“And even EDF must be painfully aware of the irony of applying for permission to build two new reactors whilst it is being paid to partly turn off one it already has.”

Sizewell B currently has one of its turbines powered down – halving its output – as part of a deal with the National Grid to reduce the amount of electricity generated because there has been a 20% drop in energy use caused by Covid-19. While domestic use has obviously increased with people confined to home, the amount of power used by industry has dropped dramatically.

The National Grid Electricity System Operator, which contols supply and demand, has offered fixed-term contracts with power generators to “compensate” the industry for agreeing to reduce their output.

In a letter to local councils, Dr Poulter said EDF’s Sizewell C consultation was “unacceptable” and he did not believe this was a good time to progress the project.

He said: “Something of this magnitude needs proper consideration and scrutiny. I have therefore written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to request that the consent order for the next phase of the Sizewell project should not be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

A group of 56 town and parish councils have also spoken out against the submission of the DCO during lockdown as part of a campaign coordinated by the Anglian Energy Planning Alliance and Stop Sizewell C.

Tim Beach, of Snape Parish Council, said: “We still maintain that EDF would be wrong to submit its Sizewell C application at the moment. We are disappointed and surprised by Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council saying they are ‘supportive’ of EDF doing so, when many communities are working flat out to support the local government response to the pandemic. The caution the Prime Minister used in his public address tells us that our communities will be facing restrictions for many many months to come.”

Stephen Brett, chair of Theberton and Eastbridge Parish Council. said: “There is a real sense of solidarity among towns and parishes in east Suffolk, and a shared determination to defend the principle that everyone must be able to fully engage in scrutinising the Sizewell C application when it comes. The county and district councils must stand firm and we hope this overwhelming support strengthens their ability to do so.”

An EDF Energy spokeswoman said: “We anticipate submitting the planning application for Sizewell C soon following a pause due to the coronavirus.

“We will confirm as soon as the planning application is submitted.

“It is important to note that public engagement in the process will not begin until the planning inspectorate accepts the application which takes around a month.

“Sizewell C will deliver a major boost in skills, training, jobs and business contracts to Suffolk and across the UK and will be vital for reaching our Net Zero carbon emissions target.”