Stop Sizewell C challenges Sizewell C Nuclear Site Licence
Campaigners question how the ONR can uphold the key licence without the licensed area including the sea defences, critical for keeping the site safe

For Immediate Release, 29 July 2024
For more information contact Alison Downes 07711 843884 or Paul Collins 07503 283304

[Suffolk] Stop Sizewell C has applied to the High Court for permission to challenge the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR) grant of a licence [1], to allow the construction and operation of Sizewell C. The claim points out that the boundary of the Nuclear Site Licence (NSL) does not cover the sea defences and proposed new flood barriers, critical for future site safety [2].

This challenge concerns the safety of the Sizewell C site in the age of climate change, with sea levels potentially rising further and faster than previously thought [3]. No satisfactory explanation has been given by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) for these vital elements of the Sizewell C project being excluded from the Nuclear Site Licence.

Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C said “We remain opposed to Sizewell C going ahead at all, but if it does, it is incomprehensible that the Office for Nuclear Regulation does not have full control over parts of the site vital for site safety. How can a Final Investment Decision be made, or potential Investors make rational decisions about becoming part owners of this project without the assurance that the ONR has full regulatory control over the defences required to keep Sizewell C safe throughout its lifetime?

Paul Collins, Stop Sizewell C Chair said: “Construction has barely begun, yet we are already seeing changes to existing plans with the new flood barriers [4] planned north and south of the site. These were not part of the original permission and demonstrate that there is already concern about increasing threats to the site as climate change impacts accelerate. If Sizewell C went ahead the area would hold nuclear material until the latter half of the next century, therefore it is vital that the ONR’s regulatory remit is resolved without delay.”

Sizewell C is sited on the vulnerable Suffolk coast and requires both a Hard Coastal Defence Feature and Soft Coastal Defence Feature. Stop Sizewell C has long raised concerns about the threat of flooding (still water and coastal) to the Sizewell site [5].

Stop Sizewell C is represented by Richard Buxton Solicitors [6] and Philip Coppel KC. Stop Sizewell C is grateful for the support and solidarity of Together Against Sizewell C.

Notes
1. A redacted copy of the Sizewell C Nuclear Site Licence was initially not publicly available and had to be obtained through FoI. View here ONR Licence 104 – Sizewell C Ltd – Sizewell C_Redacted.pdf
2. Map of the NSL licence boundary available from sizewell-c-nuclear-site-licence-boundary.pdf (onr.org.uk)
3. See https://www.egu.eu/news/740/sea-level-will-rise-faster-than-previously-thought/ and https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/25/newly-identified-tipping-point-for-ice-sheets-could-mean-greater-sea-level-rise
4. See Appendix 3, page 38 of ONR Proportionate Reassessment of External Hazards https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onr.org.uk%2Fmedia%2F1hwjiad5%2Fsizewell-c-nuclear-site-licence-proportionate-reassessment-external-hazards-2024.docx
5. https://stopsizewellc.org/coast/
6. Richard Buxton 07900 413762 rbuxton@richardbuxton.co.uk