Sizewell Development Consent Order (DCO)

East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council will use this page to provide all documentation in relation to the Development Consent Order (DCO) process for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell C.

Two letters have been sent by the two Councils to EDF Energy and the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in relation to the anticipated DCO submission.

These letters were accompanied by this press release.

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.

• Town and Parish Council Engagement Event presentation
• Town and Parish Council Engagement Event Summary of Breakout Groups

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

• Coastal Event presentation
• Discussion Group notes
• Coastal Workshop Chat Bar

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

• East Suffolk Council response
• Suffolk County Council response

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.

• Secretary of State’s decision letter 
• Development Consent Order as made by the Secretary of State
• Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report Volume 1 
• Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report Volume 2
• Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report Volume 3
• Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report Volume 4