Government Approve Development Consent Order For Sizewell

Posted: 21st July 2022

TASC are bitterly disappointed, but not surprised, that the government has decided to approve the development consent order (DCO) for EDF’s Sizewell C, ignoring the planning inspectorate’s recommendation against approval. This is despite the avalanche of information submitted from opponents during the 18-month period of the DCO examination, presenting detailed and overwhelming evidence why Sizewell is an entirely inappropriate site and why eye-wateringly expensive and slow-to-deploy nuclear power is not required for meeting our electricity generating or climate change targets. It seems that even in the midst of a selection process for a replacement for nuclear-fixated Boris Johnson, the attraction of nuclear power continues to mesmerise politicians.

But the fight is not over. In fact, it is just beginning. Sizewell still has to be granted many authorisations, discharge permits and licences before it can be built and begin the long, slow and tortuous path to operational status, should its technical problems be overcome. Another major hurdle is finding investors willing to ignore its tainted environmental credentials due to the impact arising from damage to Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, the Heritage Coast and Sizewell Marshes SSSI, not to mention the concerns expressed by the RSPB regarding the impact on their Minsmere nature reserve, as well as the hundreds of millions of fish and fish fry that will be killed by Sizewell C’s cooling water system each and every year for its 60 years of operation. It also faces significant legal challenges. Together Against Sizewell C is actively consulting its lawyers, Leigh Day, on aspects of the approval decision to identify issues on which the law has been transgressed. Where they are identified, those transgressions will be tested in the courts in a judicial review. TASC believe that there are many areas where such challenges could stand a good chance of success, not on areas on which matters of opinion differ, but on hard and fast matters of law. We are delighted to say that Suffolk Coastal Friends of the Earth has agreed to support us with our campaign in whatever capacity it can. FoE co-ordinator, Rachel Fulcher, told us, ‘We look forward to a productive association with TASC on this matter.’ TASC anticipate collaborating with other groups, working with our respective legal teams to spread the net of potential challenges as wide as possible. This approach increases our chances of being able to appeal the decision, and our co-ordination will require the opposition to face a wider spread of arguments against their plans and demonstrate that those opposed to this ridiculous development are organised, determined and resolute.

TASC has launched an appeal for funds at TASC (formerly Communities Against Nuclear Expansion) has been fighting against further nuclear development at Sizewell for more than a decade. We are committed to winning. Sizewell C is far from a done deal. If we can stop Sizewell C, we can bring the government’s ludicrous fantasy of a 24Gw new nuclear ‘energy security’ policy to an end and point it at a 100 renewables future, free from the fears of nuclear radiation, nuclear waste and nuclear contamination. Please join us and help us reach the first Crowd Justice target of £5,000 and then the £50,000 that we will ultimately need if the case goes to court.

Details of the decision by the government and the recommendation from the planning inspectorate can be found on the planning inspectorate’s website at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/the-sizewell-c-project/?ipcsection=docs

Thank you for your continued support.

Pete Wilkinson, Chairperson