Development Consent Order

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Overview

This page provides details and documentation in relation to the Development Consent Order (DCO) process for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell C. It also provides a summary of relevant engagement activity for the DCO. Prior to the application being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in May 2020, two letters were sent by the two councils to EDF Energy and PINS in relation to the anticipated DCO submission.

EDF Energy submitted their application for Development Consent Order for a new nuclear power station, Sizewell C, on the 27 May 2020, the Planning Inspectorate had 28 days to determine if the application was acceptable. Up to date documentation and information on the project can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website.

On the 9 June 2020, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council submitted their response to the Planning Inspectorate's request for comment on EDF Energy's adequacy of consultation.

On the 29 July 2020, JLAG hosted a virtual event with town and parish councils across east Suffolk to discuss the Sizewell C DCO process.

On the 13 August 2020 the Suffolk Coast Forum hosted a virtual event for its members to discuss the Sizewell C DCO.

SCF Sizewell C Coastal Event Presentation

On the 1 December 2020, local stakeholders, councillors, and officers attended a Suffolk Coast Forum Coastal Engagement Event (virtual). This provided an update on the strategic direction East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council are taking on the EDF Energy DCO to date, and an opportunity to share views on key areas of discussion on coastal issues in light of EDF Energy’s proposed changes.

East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council responses to Sizewell C Co’s November – December public consultation changes to the DCO.

The Councils’ Joint Local Impact Report submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at Deadline 1. The appendices will only be available on the Sizewell C project page of the Planning Inspectorate's website.

East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council Joint Local Impact Report

Following the close of Examination on 14 October 2021, the Examining Authority submitted their report to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy which set out their recommendation (25 February 2022).

On 20 July 2022, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy wrote to the applicant notifying that the overall planning balance for the project has been considered and, for the reasons set out in the decision letter, he has concluded that the very substantial and urgent need for the proposal outweighs the harms, and that development consent should therefore be granted.

Summary of useful DCO links:

Sizewell C Project Background and Key Milestones

Project Background:

November 2009 – the Government announced Sizewell would be a suitable site for the nuclear expansion programme
February 2010 – the councils gave their formal responses to the Government's consultation on its draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure.
October 2010 – Our Sizewell Task Group met for the first time.
January 2011 – the two councils established a Sizewell C project office.
July 2011 – the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change approved the National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure.
January 2012 – the Sizewell C Joint Local Authority group (JLAG) was established to facilitate a joint local authority approach.
October 2019 - the Council gave their response to the Governments consultation on Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model for Nuclear.

Key Milestones:

The proposal is being dealt with as a National Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). There are 6 key milestones in the planning phase of the proposed new power station:

Stage 1 Consultation – suite of documents from EDF Energy setting out background and context to the development (21 November 2012 to 6 February 2013).
Stage 2 Consultation – suite of documents from EDF Energy with details of the overall proposal for the new Sizewell C nuclear power station as well as documents for the associated developments needed to support the construction (23 November 2016 to 3 February 2017).
Stage 3 consultation – gives a greater amount of technical information on the final proposal for the development (4 January to 29 March 2019).
Stage 4 Consultation – an additional stage focusing on delivery of materials to the site, use of land and the management of local ecology (18 July to 27 September 2019).
Submission of Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Secretary of State – EDF Energy submitted their application for DCO to the Planning Inspectorate on the 27 May 2020, the Planning Inspectorate had 28 days to determine whether or not to accept the application for examination. The application was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) on 24 June 2020 – read the letter here https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010012/EN010012-002268-A05%20Notification%20of%20decision%20to%20accept%20application_.pdf
Decision by the Secretary of State – following its assessment, the Planning Inspectorate made their recommendation to the Secretary of State.

On 17 December 2021, the Planning Inspectorate sent a request to the Secretary of State for an extension to the reporting period – read the request here - https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010012/EN010012-008720-Request%20to%20extend%20Reporting%20stage.pdf
The Secretary of State then issued a letter extending the reporting period by six weeks, from 14 January 2022 until no later than 25 February 2022 – read the letter here - https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010012/EN010012-008729-SoS-extension-to-Reporting-stage.pdf
The Examining Authority issued their recommendation report to the Secretary of State on 25 February 2022 in 4 volumes:

The Secretary of State then had 3 months to make a decision, however the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy decided to extend the statutory deadline for this application to 20 July 2022. A statement confirming the new deadline for the decision was made to the House of Commons and House of Lords, in accordance with section 107(7) of the Planning Act 2008 – read the statement here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-07-07/hcws195
The final decision for the Sizewell C project was made by the Secretary of State on 20 July 2022 – read the decision letter here - https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010012/EN010012-011164-SZC-Decision-Letter.pdf

Useful links

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