Sizewell C secures planning approval for Avonmouth tunnel production facility, supporting up to 400 jobs

• Pre-cast tunnel segments and heads to be transported to Suffolk by rail and sea
• Facility builds on the positive legacy left by Hinkley Point C
• Employment and Skills plan to support apprentices and work experience students

Sizewell C has secured planning permission for a major tunnel production facility in Avonmouth, supporting up to 400 jobs and strengthening the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

The facility will manufacture the pre-cast concrete segments and tunnel heads needed to construct Sizewell C’s marine tunnels. Once complete, the components will be transported to Suffolk by rail and sea, supporting the project’s commitment to move at least 60% of construction materials by rail and sea, significantly reducing the need for HGVs to travel on local roads.

Located around 10 kilometres north-west of Bristol city centre, the development builds on the successful tunnel production facility delivered at the same site for Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C’s sister project. Drawing on proven expertise and innovation, it will help sustain and create skilled jobs while leaving a lasting legacy of engineering and manufacturing capability across the South West.

Nigel Cann, CEO of Sizewell C, said: “Opening this facility and supporting hundreds of jobs at Bristol Port shows once again that Sizewell C is delivering growth and opportunities right across the UK.

“Manufacturing our pre-cast concrete components off-site and delivering them by rail and sea means the benefits will be felt in our host community too – with less construction traffic on local roads.

“It’s also another great example of how we’re using the learnings from Hinkley Point C, which has seen significant advancements through off-site prefabrication, and taking them to the next level. By reusing existing infrastructure and experienced teams, we can reap the benefits across safety, quality, cost, and schedule.”

Expanding the existing site includes building temporary supporting infrastructure such as concrete batching plants, cranes, offices, welfare facilities, storage areas and parking.

Early works are already underway. A total of 55 people, the vast majority from the Avonmouth area, are employed by Sizewell C’s delivery partner, the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), including two apprentices and a summer work experience placement. A further 86 supply chain workers are currently on site.

Subject to conditions being met, production of the tunnel segments and heads are expected to begin in 2028.

Michael Mitchell, who worked at Avonmouth for HPC as a Site Engineer for four years, said: “I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to another major infrastructure development and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I am particularly grateful to be involved in such a significant project while also being able to return home to my family each day, achieving a much better work-life balance.”

An Employment and Skills Plan will be delivered by the CWA in partnership with local authorities, education providers and industry partners to maximise opportunities for local people. The programme will focus on:

• Promoting careers in construction, engineering and the nuclear sector through engagement with local schools.
• Expanding access to apprenticeships, work experience placements, internships, graduate programmes and vocational training.
• Supporting under-represented groups and those facing barriers to employment.

Daniel Altier, CWA Marine and Tunnelling Delivery Director, said: “The CWA is committed to not only establishing a state-of-the-art factory that will manufacture the 38,500 segments required for the three tunnels, but also to train a skilled workforce, with the majority coming from the local area.”

The investment in Avonmouth further strengthens the UK’s advanced manufacturing capability while supporting the delivery of one of the country’s most important clean energy projects and providing employment opportunities across the UK.

Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, said: “Last June, the government announced £14.2 billion investment to build the Sizewell C nuclear plant, with nuclear power to play an important role in strengthening the UK’s energy security as we transition to clean energy. The investment will create thousands of jobs across the country, and I’m delighted to hear that a sizeable number of these Sizewell C skilled jobs are coming to Avonmouth in my constituency.”

The announcement also builds on Sizewell C’s growing economic contribution across the UK. The project’s second Annual Sustainability Report revealed that almost £5bn has already been invested with more than 1,000 UK suppliers, including around £1bn with businesses in Suffolk.

Independent analysis by Oxford Economics estimates that Sizewell C will generate £26bn of Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK during construction, supporting jobs, businesses and economic growth across the country.