Green light for construction of £4.4bn Sizewell C nuclear power station

Sizewell C has triggered its Development Consent Order (DCO) for the plant, having won permission to build in July 2022. Preparatory works have already started but many obligations needed to be satisfied before main construction works could start under the DCO.

Those obligations, set out in a Deed of Obligation document signed with East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council, included activity ranging from key road surveys to the establishment of governance groups.

In September 2023, the government, Sizewell C and French-owned energy company EDF launched an equity raise process to attract private investors into the project. While triggering the DCO and entering the construction phase is not dependent on a final investment decision (FID), discussions with qualified potential investors are continuing and a final investment decision is expected later in 2024.

Meanwhile, Sizewell C will deliver 1,500 apprenticeships with at least one third of the peak construction workforce of 7,900 coming from the local area

Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, joint managing directors at Sizewell C, said: “We’ve had a really successful year of pre-commencement works on site, and we’ve been working hard with local partners and organisations to ensure we’re ready to take this next step for the project.

“While Sizewell C will be a linchpin of Britain’s energy system, it’s much more than a power station, especially for this region. Entering the construction phase will be a game-changer for the area, helping to boost employment and skills, enhancing the local environment, and developing new clean technologies.”