Sizewell C has today signed a deal with EDF Energy for the freehold of the land which will be used to build the new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast.
As a standalone company, majority owned by the UK Government, Sizewell C Ltd is required to purchase the land before it can be eligible for a nuclear site licence, after the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) completes its ongoing assessment.
Most of the land will be used for the construction of the power station buildings, including the two reactor units (EPRs). The surrounding area will provide space for new wildlife habitats, a temporary construction site, and an accommodation campus for 2,400 workers.
Once construction of Sizewell C is completed, the majority of the newly purchased land will be restored to grassland, heathland, scrub and deciduous woodland. In the long-run, Sizewell C is expected to boost local biodiversity by 19%.
Today’s announcement comes after Sizewell C officially entered the construction phase in January. An equity raise process to help finance the project is continuing to make good progress and a Final Investment Decision is expected later this year.
Nigel Cann and Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Managing Directors, said:
“This is another important step which fulfils a key requirement of the ONR and demonstrates that Sizewell C is an independent organisation. It builds on the progress we are making right across the project in raising additional finance, agreeing contracts with suppliers, and manufacturing key nuclear components.
“We are also accelerating the recruitment of our workforce and preparing the ground at our construction site so that we can begin bulk earthworks in a few weeks from now.”
Sizewell C has been jointly developed by EDF and the UK Government – the Government is now the majority shareholder and is currently investing a total of £2.5bn in financial support for the project.
Minister for Nuclear & Renewables, Andrew Bowie, said:
“This deal not only secures the land we need to build the power station, it also guarantees the project’s independence as it draws closer to a final investment decision.
“Sizewell C will be a major piece of our energy infrastructure helping us achieve our ambition of up to 24GW of low-carbon nuclear power by 2050.”
Sizewell C will be one of the UK’s biggest clean energy projects, providing low carbon electricity to six million homes for at least 60 years. It will save nine million tonnes of CO2 emissions for every year of operation.
Simone Rossi, EDF’s UK CEO, said:
“EDF is proud to be part of the nuclear renaissance in the UK. The company has successfully extended the lives of the existing fleet following £7.5 billion of investment. We are proud to be building the EPR at Hinkley Point C and supporting the replica project at Sizewell C.”
At least 70% of the construction value of Sizewell C will go to UK companies. The project will support thousands of British jobs and create 1,500 apprenticeships. It will continue the transformation of British nuclear skills and training started by Hinkley Point C in Somerset.
Sizewell C is determined to bring as much benefit as possible to local communities and to continue Sizewell B’s strong track record in protecting the local environment. At the start of the construction phase in January, a £250m package of funding was activated to support a wide range of community projects and set up an environment trust. Four new community forums have also been launched so that residents can discuss key issues with the project team.
