Sizewell C Stage 2 consultation closes with more to come

More than 3,500 people have taken part in Stage 2 of the Sizewell C public consultation which ends this week (Feb 3) after ten weeks of events, exhibitions and meetings.

There have been 70 events held in churches, community centres, offices, village and town halls across the county and the Sizewell C team has worked alongside organisations such as the Rural Coffee Caravan project to ensure even the smallest communities were reached.

Planning Aid England has also helped 14 parish councils submit their responses to proposals for Sizewell C with funding from EDF Energy to provide independent and free guidance and advice to local parish and town councils during this consultation.

Each issue raised will now be considered and recorded. The feedback will be analysed and used to help EDF Energy develop final proposals which will be subject to further consultation.

Jim Crawford, Sizewell C project development director said:  “I would like to thank the local communities across East Suffolk for taking part in this latest round of public consultation for Sizewell C. We will now take the time necessary to fully consider all the feedback we have received, in order to shape the proposals we will develop for further public consultation. This will be a detailed process and shows our commitment to genuine consultation and listening to our stakeholders.”

Stage 2 consultation followed the signing of contracts for EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C power station in Somerset on 29 September 2016.  EDF Energy pledged to launch Stage 2 consultation for the proposed new power station in Suffolk as soon as possible after contracts were reached on Hinkley Point C.

EDF Energy is committed to maximising the benefits of the project for Suffolk whilst minimising the potential impact. Sizewell C would comprise of two EPR nuclear reactors which would make a major contribution to the nation’s future needs for reliable low carbon energy, supplying enough electricity for around 6 million homes in Britain, meeting 7% of the nation’s future needs. The power station would provide 5,600 jobs on-site during the core construction period and employment for 900 people when operational.