There has been a mixed reaction to the government's decision to grant the Development Consent Order to build and operate a new nuclear power station, Sizewell C.

While businesses welcome the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy move to build the nuclear facility up the Suffolk coast from Felixstowe., the county council has expressed its concerns..

Meanwhile, the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership, which includes Felixstowe and surrounding areas, acknowledged the Secretary of State decision to award the Sizewell C project development consent.

But it hoped that many of the benefits of the Sizewell C project claimed by the developer will come to fruition, including new high skilled jobs drawn from the local community, low carbon electricity generation and environment gains.

Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB (Picture credit: Gill Moon)

Nick Collinson, chair of the AONB Partnership said: "The AONB Partnership has always considered that the proposals for the introduction of two European Pressurised Water (EPR) reactors into the area will cause significant harm to the area's landscape and ability of part of the AONB to deliver its statutory purpose to conserve and enhance natural beauty.

"This part of England has been designated for its nature, tranquillity and scenic quality, much of which will be lost or damaged during the nine-12 year construction.

The Partnership will of course work constructively with EDF to ensure mitigation and compensation is maximised to minimise the damage to this special part of the world."

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce believes the power station will deliver many benefits for the area.

Ashley Shorey-Mills, head of Suffolk Chamber's Sizewell C Supply Chain portal said: "The positive decision to award the development consent order for Sizewell C is good news for Suffolk, for many of our businesses and for the skills and employability prospects for the county's and the region's workers, especially during the construction phase of the new nuclear power station. 

"For many years, the Sizewell C Supply Chain portal, which is managed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, has been the pivotal resource for companies interested in preparing themselves for this exciting project. We have over 2000 companies now registered with us. We are working closely with them to ensure the supply chain is fit and ready to take advantage of the commitments of £4.4bn for our local and regional supply chain, as well as the legacy of skills and opportunity for this part of the country.   

"We urge any business that hasn't as yet registered to do so as a matter of urgency.

"For further information, please visit sizewellcsupplychain.co.uk."

However, county councillors spoke of their dismay and disappointmen that a number of key issues have not been fully resolved, but is now looking ahead to the boosts for the local economy and protecting the local environment.

Whilst the council has been successful in securing many improvements to the scheme, it had raised several concerns where the impact on the natural environment could have been improved:

• The blight of the additional pylons at the main site
• Unnecessary and damaging outage car park at Goose Hill
• Sizewell Link Road should be removed after construction to prevent lasting damage to the environment

Richard Rout

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Environment, said: "During the process, the council's voice has been strong, and our influence has resulted in a number of significant improvements to the proposals, to make them more acceptable for Suffolk.

"We have taken the concerns of Suffolk residents to the highest levels, from the Planning Inspectorate to the Secretary of State. We are disappointed that, in our opinion, some of these have not been listened to.

"It is now our role to ensure that as Sizewell C proceeds, it does so with the least possible impact on Suffolk's residents and unique natural environment, whilst doing all we can to maximise the economic opportunities for our county."

The council has been instrumental in recent changes made to the proposals, which will see Suffolk benefit from nearly £200m of investment to mitigate the impact on communities, the environment and infrastructure. Assurances have also been secured to see a far greater quantity of construction materials will be delivered by rail and sea, reducing the number of lorries on the county's rural roads.

Since the site was first identified as a site for a new nuclear power station there has been an acknowledgement of the damage that will be inflicted on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the 9-12 years construction and 60 year operation and decommissioning.

AONB beach

The development will be one of the largest constructions in Europe and perhaps the biggest built development in a nationally designated landscape.

Nick Collinson added: "The AONB Partnership recognises that the decision to include the Sizewell site as one for new nuclear was made many years ago.

"It notes that this decision recognised that such a development will cause significant harm to the AONB.

"The AONB Partnership have always considered that the proposals that were put forward, and that have now secured consent, are not suitable for a nationally designated landscape, in terms of their scale and impacts on natural beauty, but this argument was not accepted by the decision makers. The AONB Partnership will seek to work closely with the developer to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of this special part of the coast."

 Following the decision to grant the Sizewell C Development Consent Order, there is now a six week period in which judicial review challenges may be made.