East Suffolk Council
Background information
Transport considerations
- Presentation - Sizewell C Construction - Perceived Social Impacts of Traffic
- Sizewell C Impact Cover note
- Sizewell C Impact Summary Report
- Sizewell C Impact Final Report
Route D2 and B1122 study
EDF Energy has identified the B1122 as the main access route to deliver the Sizewell C development. This route will need to accommodate HGV vehicles for the delivery of materials, coach traffic for transporting workers to the site, abnormal loads and car trips by individual workers/visitors. Following the Stage 1 consultation by EDF Energy, concerns were raised around the lack of information provided for transport related mitigation for the B1122.
In response to this concern, Suffolk County Council commissioned a study to carry out a high-level assessment for potential improvements, based on those proposed for the Sizewell B development. This report considers a high-level environmental assessment; a cost estimate for delivering improvements and an assessment of benefits. There is also an appendix with supporting detail and an additional report that responds to questions raised.
- Sizewell C, Route D2 and B1122 - Feasibility/Route options study
- Sizewell C, Route D2 and B1122 - Queries and responses
- Appendix
A12 four-villages bypass (historic)
In February 2013, along with Suffolk County Council, we published a report commissioned to review the traffic impacts of EDF’s Sizewell C proposals on the A12 Woodbridge to Lowestoft route through the villages of Marlesford, Little Glemham, Stratford St Andrew and Farnham, which backed up the case for a bypass of the villages:
In December 2013 Suffolk County Council commissioned a report to look at route options for the A12:
In December 2014 we published an assessment outlining the wider economic benefits of investment in the A12:
In January 2015, we met with local campaigners and agreed to approach central government, seeking additional financial support for a four-village bypass:
- Joint Local Authority Group (JLAG) letter to the Secretary of State for Transport
- Appendix to letter to the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State for Transport replied to JLAG's letter on 17 March 2015:
Design Principles
The Sizewell C design principles were produced in collaboration and discussion with the National Trust, RSPB, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.
The ecological principles were produced in collaboration and discussion with the National Trust, RSPB, Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, Suffolk Preservation Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust.
The estate principles were produced in collaboration and discussion with the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB and Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
The five principles documents have been endorsed by the Sizewell C Joint Local Authority Group (JLAG):
- Sizewell C Economic Development, Skills, Education and Employment principles
- Sizewell C design principles: the local perspective
- Suffolk principles for the management of the Sizewell estate
- Suffolk ecology principles for Sizewell C
- Suffolk access principles for Sizewell C
Economic Development
After EDF Energy’s Stage 2 public consultation, Suffolk Coastal District Council working alongside Suffolk County Council remained concerned with the potential impacts of the Sizewell C proposal on the economics of the project during construction and operation phases.
In order to be in a position to challenge EDF Energy during their planned Stage 3 public consultation, we jointly commissioned a report to assess the potential local economic impact of the Sizewell C development on East Suffolk. This report was commissioned in April 2018 and is now available on our website.
We used this report in our response to the Stage 3 public consultation and to inform future discussions with EDF Energy on their project.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) special qualities document
The document below sets out the Natural Beauty and Special Qualities of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The document has been developed by EDF Energy, as part of their preparatory work for the proposed Sizewell C, in consultation and agreement with the AONB Partnership, District Council and County Council.
It follows a rigorous criteria based approach, building on the existing Natural England process for the designation of protected landscapes.
It forms an important part of the baseline to help inform the design of the proposed development and against which to judge the effects of the proposed development on the protected landscape and its special qualities, but clearly will be of significant wider benefit to the AONB Partnership in articulating what is characteristic and special about this nationally important landscape.
Aldhurst Farm Habitat Creation Scheme
EDF Energy received planning permission for a habitat creation scheme including the creation of approximately 6 hectares of wetland habitat, wet reed bed, open-water and perimeter ditches within four ground water basins together with marginal drier reed habitat.
Soils excavated to create the basins, will be used across the remainder of the 67 hectare site to establish a landscape including grassland, heathland, scrub and scattered trees. Other associated works include realignment of the existing watercourse, the relocation of groundwater abstraction boreholes, a new pump house and fencing.
EDF Energy submitted a request for a screening opinion under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations in October 2014. Our formal response was issued in November 2014.
- EDF Energy's request for a screening opinion
- Supporting document
- Our formal response
- Screening opinion flow chart
A formal application for planning permission for the proposal (DC/14/4224/FUL) was submitted on the 23 December 2014.
Conditional planning permission was issued on the 9 March 2015 following the meeting of the Development Management North Sub-Committee on the 4 March 2015.
Case Study - Hinkley Point C
EDF Energy’s sister project to Sizewell C is Hinkley Point C in Somerset. The Development Consent Order for this was granted in March 2013. The Secretary of State’s decision letter and the panel report to the Secretary of State may be of interest. There is a great deal of other information on the process of the Hinkley proposal on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council, as part of the New Nuclear Local Authorities Group have co-funded a new study on the impacts of the early stage construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset.
We will look forward to using the learning from this study to feed into discussion around the Sizewell C development. The study was independently undertaken by the Impact Assessment Unit of Oxford Brookes University, led by Professor John Glasson.
The study will help to inform the way that future new nuclear power station developments, at Sizewell C and elsewhere in the UK, and other Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), are developed, consented and governed. The Hinkley Point C project was one of the first NSIPs to be consented and has been under construction since 2012.
It offers therefore the best opportunity to learn about the scale, nature and extent of the likely impacts of nuclear new builds, and to gather both quantitative and qualitative evidence of the impact in practice.
The Hinkley Point C project was a first of its kind – the first major NSIP to be determined through the Planning Act 2008, and the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK since the 1980s. It did not have the benefit of similar projects to help shape measurement and governance. Future projects can and should be learning from the experience at Hinkley Point C, and this study will facilitate such learning.
The Impact Assessment Unit research team included: Professor John Glasson, Dr Bridget Durning, visiting Professor Martin Broderick and Ms Kellie Welch.
The New Nuclear Local Authorities Group (NNLAG) is a Local Government Association Special Interest Group, consisting of fifteen Local Authorities from across the UK that already host or are likely to host nuclear new build projects. NNLAG’s purpose is for local authorities to share knowledge, information and best practice regarding new nuclear, and to provide a mechanism for local authorities, as elected representatives of local areas, to discuss and make representations direct to Government regarding the development of new nuclear and of nuclear-related connection/transmission projects.
NNLAG’s member local authorities are: Allerdale Borough Council, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria County Council, East Suffolk Council, Essex County Council, Lancaster City Council, Maldon District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Somerset County Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Suffolk County Council, and Somerset West & Taunton Council. NNLAG is currently chaired by the Isle of Anglesey Council.