New report tracks early public opinion on Sizewell C and hopes for the future

• Community study by University of Suffolk reveals local views on Sizewell C’s early impacts 
• Findings highlight high aspirations for employment and skills opportunities, as well as concerns about additional pressure on local services 
• Sizewell C welcomes report and introduces new ‘listening service’  

A new independent report commissioned by Sizewell C, the new nuclear power station under construction on the Suffolk coast, has taken the first-ever temperature check of local public opinion on the project. 

The Sizewell C Community Study, carried out by the University of Suffolk, explores how residents in Leiston and surrounding areas view the project at this early stage – examining current experiences, anticipated impacts, and long-term hopes. This baseline report will allow Sizewell C to measure changes in public opinion as the project progresses. 

The report follows last week’s analysis by global economic advisory firm Oxford Economics, which estimated that Sizewell C will deliver a “major boost” to the East of England economy, while reducing local unemployment from 2.7% to as low as 1.7%. 

Key findings of the new report show that while residents are highly familiar with Sizewell C – reflecting its long-standing presence in local debate – there is a need for greater awareness of specific commitments. People wanted to know more about the project’s community pledges, for example the £23m Sizewell C Community Fund grant scheme, and mitigation measures such as the three large nature reserves around Leiston.   

Sizewell C, which welcomed the report, has introduced several additional measures since the study was conducted between summer 2024 and spring 2025. These include: 

• Weekly roadworks bulletin to keep residents informed 

• Subscription service for the Works Tracker for real-time updates 

• Additional focus groups to broaden engagement 

Working with the University of Suffolk, Sizewell C is also launching a ‘Listening Service’, offering additional opportunities for residents to share views. These sessions will help track how early expectations compare with emerging experiences as the project progresses. 

Marjorie Barnes, Head of Regional External Affairs & Development, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in this study. Your feedback is invaluable and will play a key role in shaping how we work with local communities in the future. We recognise the impact our project is having on the area, especially the roads, and we remain committed to maintaining the trust and transparency we’ve built together. We’re always here to listen, support, and respond – and we welcome all feedback, whether that’s popping into our information office on Leiston High Street or attending one of our twelve annual forums, we want to hear from you. Thank you for your continued engagement and support.” 

The study highlighted concerns about additional pressure on local healthcare services, and the clear ambition for investment in skills and youth opportunities – two areas Sizewell C is already heavily investing in.  

The project has established its own dedicated health and wellbeing centre located on site. This centre provides emergency response, minor injury service, physiotherapy and a sessional GP, helping to alleviate pressure on local services. 

Earlier this year, Sizewell C also announced plans to build a permanent education campus on the outskirts of Leiston. Located opposite its Ancillary Construction Area on King Georges Avenue, this facility will transform local education and training – creating pathways into engineering, construction, and energy careers whilst also offering a broad curriculum for adult learners. 

The campus will support many of the 540 apprenticeships Sizewell C has pledged for Suffolk residents, ensuring young people can build rewarding careers without leaving the county. Construction on the campus is expected to begin next year.    

The baseline study draws on three linked surveys and twelve independently facilitated focus groups. The public survey captured views from several hundred residents across Leiston and surrounding villages, along with a Families and Teachers Survey, and a Stakeholder Survey involving local authorities, public services, voluntary organisations, and businesses.  

Dr Cristian Dogaru, the study’s principal investigator, said: “I want to express my sincere thanks to all the residents, community organisations, and local practitioners who contributed to this study. Their willingness to participate, often by sharing thoughtful and sometimes challenging reflections, has been essential to producing an evidence base that genuinely reflects local experience. I am also grateful to my colleague and co-investigator, Laura Polley, whose work has been central to the design and delivery of the research. Throughout the project we have been struck by the openness with which people engaged and by the strong sense of place that shapes local perspectives. It has been a privilege to work with the community on this first stage of what we hope will be a longer process of monitoring and dialogue.” 

The study will be revisited annually to review change in views over time, and progress against themes. 

Professor John Glasson, who led the Oxford Brookes University research on the local impacts of the construction of Sizewell B, and the current Hinkley Point C, welcomed the new report: “The construction of major projects, such as Sizewell C, can have many impacts on host communities and their environment, but these can be managed if they are well predicted and monitored. The study by the University of Suffolk provides a very useful baseline of local perceptions of current and anticipated impacts in early construction. This can provide a basis for the important regular monitoring of such perceptions, vitally reinforced by monitoring data on indicators such as project employment, workforce accommodation and traffic, and many others. Such monitoring can help to better manage and to mitigate negative and enhance positive local impacts of the project.”