Sizewell C proposals

A project of the scale and complexity of Sizewell C would bring significant economic and employment opportunities, supporting the security of the UK’s economic future as well as producing a long-term boost for the local economy through increased employment and skills provision.

Local economic benefits

Our expectation remains that the power station would put at least £100 million a year into the regional economy during peak construction and £40 million per year during its 60 years of operation. This is based on the Hinkley Point C (HPC) application for development consent, however since construction has started its forecast has been revised up to £200m per year of local economic benefits during the construction phase. We are working to understand the extent to which the supply chain in Suffolk and the East of England is likely to be able to secure a similar package of contracts to those secured locally at HPC.

While the potential benefits are substantial, we recognize that Sizewell C could also result in adverse social or economic effects, and our overarching approach is to avoid, mitigate, or manage these. Our work on the social and economic impacts of Sizewell C will be supported by separate Health Impact Assessment and Community Impact Reports, which will form part of our application for development consent.

Construction workforce

Construction of Sizewell C would create approximately 25,000 roles on the main development site. There would also be a need for a significant workforce in non-construction roles, both directly and in the supply chain. Once operational, there would be a long-term legacy of 900 permanent jobs and a regular short-term workforce of around an additional 1,000 people during refueling and maintenance outages.

Supply chain

Wherever possible, we are aiming to ensure local businesses can compete for the significant number of contracts needed to build, support and operate Sizewell C. For more information or to register an interest, along with more than 1,300 companies already on the database, please visit: sizewellcsupplychain.co.uk.

Tourism

We recognise that tourism is an important source of jobs and income in many areas of the local economy, in particular within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB). We are working with key organisations, including local authorities, Suffolk Coast Destination Management Organisation, Visit Suffolk and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to understand the local tourist economy and Sizewell C’s potential effects on it. We have also started identifying opportunities and mitigation measures - including a potential Tourism Fund - that could support the area’s tourist economy.

Public services and community facilities

We recognise local concerns about the impact of construction, including the size, location and activities of the workforce. To ensure high standards of behaviour from our workforce, both on-site and in the community, all Sizewell C workers would be required to sign and comply with a strict Code of Conduct, including mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in dismissal.

Since Stage 2 consultation we have been working with the local authorities and emergency services to understand potential effects on healthcare, social care for adults and young people, the use of local services in settlements close to the site, and the potential effects on emergency response in the community. We have also established an emergency services working group - including fire and rescue, police and ambulance services - to determine the level of additional need - and potential mitigation required - that may arise as a result of Sizewell C.

The overall aim of our accommodation strategy is to strike a balance between providing temporary worker accommodation and workers using existing local accommodation, in order to minimise impacts on the community while promoting the economic benefits of workers living and spending in the area.

Sports facilities

We are working with Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) to determine whether sports facilities could be provided on land between Leiston Leisure Centre and Alde Valley Academy, with shared access for Alde Valley Academy, the community, and construction workers.

Feedback at Stage 2 consultation included a desire for the campus sports facilities to be located in Leiston and retained for use after construction. We have considered community demand alongside workforce need to establish that the facilities of most benefit are:

• a full-sized synthetic turf football pitch; and

• at least two multi-use games areas.

 

Caravan accommodation

Our proposed caravan site on land to the east of Eastlands Industrial Estate (LEEIE) would be available in the early years before the campus is established and retained throughout construction as an option for workers. The current proposal would allow around 400 pitches.Caravan accommodation

Our proposed caravan site on land to the east of Eastlands Industrial Estate (LEEIE) would be available in the early years before the campus is established and retained throughout construction as an option for workers. The current proposal would allow around 400 pitches.

Building Sizewell C would involve the daily movement of large numbers of construction workers and significant amounts of materials and equipment. In developing and designing our transport proposals, we have sought opportunities to limit the impact of construction of Sizewell C on the local highway network wherever possible. Our proposals include mitigation measures to limit potential effects on local communities and the environment.

Movement of materials

We are proposing two alternative strategies - rail-led or road-led - for the movement of materials. We plan to use excavated materials on-site as fill or for landscaping, and a borrow pit to source and deposit material.

The rail-led strategy would provide direct access into the main site for five trains a day using a new rail line (known as the green route), and a road bypass of Theberton.

The road-led strategy would provide a new Sizewell link road from the A12 to the B1122, and a freight management facility to the east of Ipswich, along with two trains a day (to Sizewell Halt or a new rail siding) throughout construction.

Features common to both strategies, include:

• Additional B1122 mitigation;
• A beach landing facility;
• Options for use of Sizewell Halt or construction of a new rail siding;
• Use of existing rail lines;
• A bypass of Farnham and Stratford St Andrew (a two-village bypass);
• Park and ride sites at Darsham and Wickham Market;
• Highway improvements; and
• HGV management activities.

For details and to learn about options within our proposals for the movement of materials, please read the Stage 3 Consultation Summary Document.

Movement of people

Reducing the amount of additional traffic generated by the movement of construction workforce remains a key part of our transport plans. In addition to the accommodation campus, our proposals to support the movement of people remain as previously presented at Stage 2 and include:

• two temporary park and ride facilities on the A12 to intercept traffic coming from the north and south;
• direct bus services operating from Leiston (in response to feedback from Stage 2 and further technical work), Ipswich and Lowestoft; and
• bus pick-up services from Saxmundham station for workers using rail services on the East Suffolk line.

Our proposed locations for the park and ride facilities are Darsham in the north and Wickham Market in the south. When the construction phase is at its peak, the park and ride sites would operate seven days a week, with the movement of buses responding to the shift patterns of workers coming to and from the main development site. When no longer needed, the buildings and associated infrastructure would be removed, and the area returned to agricultural use. Our traffic modelling now shows a need for more car parking spaces at each site than were previously proposed, however the size of the sites remains the same.

Road improvements

While our proposals have been designed to limit potential impacts on the local road network, we recognise that the A12 and B1122 are particularly likely to be affected by construction traffic. To limit adverse effects and address potential capacity and safety issues, we are proposing a number of mitigation measures separate to those proposed under the rail-led or road-led strategies.

A12 - two village bypass: we recognise that Sizewell C traffic would exacerbate an existing problem on the A12 at the Farnham bend and are proposing mitigation to significantly reduce the traffic passing through the narrow bend. Following feedback at Stage 2 consultation, discussions with Suffolk County Council, and further technical work, our proposal is a bypass of Farnham and Stratford St Andrew (a two-village bypass), with key design changes aimed at reducing environmental impacts.

A12/B1122 junction: the B1122 would experience a significant increase in traffic as a result of Sizewell C. Following feedback at Stage 2 consultation and further technical work, our proposal to improve the junction of the B1122 with the A12 at Yoxford is a roundabout. It would replace the existing priority junction and is considered to be safer and more efficient than signalising the existing A12/B1122 junction.

Junction improvements: we are proposing road improvements - such as changes to signage and road markings, vegetation maintenance, speed limit changes, and other developments - at a number of key junctions to improve safety.