East Suffolk Council
Report into economic benefits of Sizewell C welcomed
East Suffolk Council has today welcomed a report which presents encouraging findings about the potential economic benefits of delivering the proposed Sizewell C Power Station.
Commissioned by the Sizewell C Consortium, Ernst and Young spoke with supply chain and key businesses in the region and have found that going ahead with the scheme would mean an investment of £4.4 billion in the East of England, of which around £2 billion would be in Suffolk. In addition, around 73,000 jobs would be supported in the East of England, including 35,000 in Suffolk.
According to Paul Wood, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration at East Suffolk Council - these findings are encouraging and spell out the clear economic benefits which the scheme would deliver.
He said: "The final decision on whether to proceed with the project rests with the government, however East Suffolk Council remains a key consultee and we will continue to seek the best possible outcomes for our communities as our number one priority.
"This report clearly indicates that a scheme of this scale brings with it considerable economic opportunities both in terms of investment in the region but also the creation of jobs at a time when the country is seeking to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
“East Suffolk is keen to maximise the opportunities to benefit local people and aid the recovery post-Covid, with enhanced skills and education offerings arising from this report. The opportunity for apprenticeships for local people cannot be underestimated and we would like a clear commitment from EDF Energy and the Consortium to maximise these local opportunities to provide lasting transferrable employment skills.
"East Suffolk will continue to work hard on ensuring that any negative impacts that come with the construction of Sizewell C are addressed and minimised to the greatest possible extent. With this in mind, we will continue to review all aspects of the proposals and ensure our voice is heard.
“However, we welcome the findings of this report which paints a very positive picture of the genuine local economic benefits that the scheme could bring."