Kier awarded significant contract to build main entrance to Sizewell C

• North Plaza crucial to delivering bulk construction phase of the power station
• 15-hectare site to include bus interchanges and personnel security facilities
• Kier brings wealth of experience from other nuclear projects, including Hinkley Point C
• Works will get underway in June, creating around 70 new jobs

Sizewell C has awarded Kier a significant contract to build the project’s main site entrance, marking a key milestone in preparations for large-scale construction.

Under the agreement, Kier will deliver the North Plaza – a 15-hectare gateway that will include bus interchanges, a deliveries hub, and personnel security facilities.

Situated east of Abbey Road in Leiston, the plaza will play a vital role in improving access to the Temporary Construction Area. It will feature new roads designed to streamline the movement of vehicles and workers – some of which will travel on to the Main Construction Area, where the new nuclear power station is being built on the Suffolk coast.

Works will get underway in June, creating around 70 new jobs.

Damian Leydon, Sizewell C’s Site Delivery Director, said: “The North Plaza is a key piece of infrastructure. It will serve as the secure entry point for trucks bringing materials to site and the entrance through which our workforce will pass after travelling in via our two park and ride facilities off the A12.

“Kier has a proven track record in supporting the UK’s nuclear sector. Together, with the support of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and local suppliers, we’ll ensure this vital element of the project is delivered as safely and efficiently as possible, while creating meaningful opportunities for local businesses and people.”

Kier, a leading infrastructure services, construction and property group, brings extensive experience in delivering complex, large-scale infrastructure. In the past six years, the company has delivered £1.4bn of nuclear and energy projects across the UK.

This includes delivering works at Sizewell C’s sister project, Hinkley Point C, as part of the Kier BAM joint venture (KBJV). Projects have included the construction of roads, ancillary buildings, a fish return system and civil security fencing.

Kier’s contract to build the North Plaza at Sizewell C forms part of the project’s Major Civils Framework – a significant package of works over the next few years.

Craig Small, Managing Director of Nuclear & Energy for Kier Infrastructure, said: “We understand the importance of delivering nuclear energy in the UK, and with our longstanding experience in this sector we are ideally placed to support the development of this vital project at Sizewell.

“Drawing on our work at Hinkley Point C, we will apply our extensive knowledge to deliver these works, with safety and efficiency at the forefront, and creating long-term social and economic impact.”

Kier has committed to supporting Sizewell C’s wider social sustainability pledges, which includes ensuring 70% of the project’s construction value is delivered to UK companies.

At peak construction, almost 8,000 people will work at Sizewell C. Once operational, the power station will generate 3.2GW of low-carbon electricity – enough to power six million homes – and reduce UK carbon emissions by around nine million tonnes each year.

The project forms part of the Government’s £725bn 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, announced last year.

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