EDF Consultation

Sizewell has been named by the Government as a site that is strategically suitable for a new nuclear power station. EDF is consulting on its proposals before submitting a planning application for Sizewell C.

Stage 2 Consultation

EDF Energy's Stage 2 of formal public consultation on the proposals for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell ran from 23 November 2016 – 3 February 2017. 

EDF published their Consultation Plans in their updated Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), outlining the activity they undertook during the public consultation. The document is available on their website where you can also find more information relating to their proposals and further consultation. The Stage 2 Consultation provided more detail on issues of interest to the local community, such as transport, accommodation, environmental information and the emerging design of the power station. Public exhibitions were held in the area in November and December 2016.

Aldringham cum Thorpe Parish Council's Response to Stage 2 Consultation

A number of Councillors attended the numerous meetings and drop in events which were held during the Sizewell C Stage 2 consultation process before the Parish Council submitted its response to the consultation at the beginning of February. The response gave a particular focus on legacy and benefit which seems to be largely absent from EDF’s current thinking. Suffolk Coastal District Council provided their own response, emphasising their disappointment at the lack of information EDF have provided.

Read the Parish Council's response here.

Other Responses to the Consultation

Everyone has had their opportunity to respond to the consultation, and concerns have been raised. Some responses can be seen below. (If you know of other responses you believe should be included please email the website - pc@aldringhamcumthorpe.suffolk.gov.uk.)

• Suffolk Coastal District Council & Suffolk County Council responded jointly to the consultation. Read their response, which reflects their concerns relating to the consultation.
• Leiston Town Council's response can be read here.
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust has worries about the consultation too - read their response.
• The Theberton & Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS) response contains very specific concerns.
• MP Dr Therese Coffey's response can be found here.

Read EDF's Updates and Newsletters and Monthly Updates published by the Sizewell C Joint Local Authorities Group (JLAG) from the lists on the left. EDF's November 2016 Update announces the Stage 2 Consultation and the November JLAG Update details it's response to the announcement.

The Sizewell Community Forum has been formed to allow interested parties to discuss the consultation. You can read the Minutes of their meetings, the latest on 27 March 2014, from the preceding link, as well as watching videos relating to progress of the consultation.

The first stage of the consultation ended on 6 February 2013. The progression of Sizewell C to Stage 2 Consultation was linked to the Final Investment Decision for Hinkley Point C. In recognition of the lengthy period of time since Stage 1 and in response to feedback from communities and parishes, EDF Energy has added a further formal stage of consultation in order to maintain dialogue and increase the opportunity for the community to have their say on Sizewell C. They will now have a three-stage process rather than two.

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Suffolk Coastal District Council's Involvement

SCDC's website has a lot of information relating to Sizewell C, covering all planning aspects, their responses to consultation and community engagement.

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Environment Agency Involvement

The Environment Agency is the principal environmental regulator of the nuclear industry in England and Wales. It works closely with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), who regulate safety and security, to ensure that any new nuclear power stations meet high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management. 

The Environment Agency is a consultee in the consultation being carried out by EDF Engergy and will comment on their proposals. In addition, if applications for environmental permits are made the EA would decide if permits should be issued and, if so, the conditions they include.

Read more about the role of the Environment Agency and it's part in the consultation process. The Environment Agency responded to EDF's Stage 1 Consultation in January 2013.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 

The Planning Inspectorate recently undertook a consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion for Sizewell C and the Environment Agency responded, along with other organisations. The Planning Inspectorate will now take all the views submitted and will formally write to EDF Energy setting out the information that will need to be included in their Environmental Statement to support their Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

Assessment of New Nuclear Power Plant Designs

The Environment Agency has already assessed new Nuclear Power Plant designs and made it's Generic Design Assessment decision in December 2012.  Learn about their assessment by reading the email linked here.

On 6 January 2014 the Environment Agency announced that the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency have begun assessing Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy’s UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (UK ABWR). This follows successful completion of the preparatory step of the regulators’ Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process. Read the full document.

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Aldringham cum Thorpe Parish Council's Response to Stage 1 Consultation

In February 2013 the Parish Council responded to EDF's Consultation Plans, and this is obviously relevant to everyone in the Parish. Read the Parish Council's response to Stage 1 of the Consultation.