This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9qwygd5j4o
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Suffolk's Sizewell C groundwork under way but funding not agreed | Suffolk's Sizewell C groundwork under way but funding not agreed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The two new reactors of Sizewell C (depicted on the right) would sit next to the blue buildings and white dome of Sizewell B | The two new reactors of Sizewell C (depicted on the right) would sit next to the blue buildings and white dome of Sizewell B |
| Groundwork for a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast is well under way, but the funding needed to build it has still not been agreed. | Groundwork for a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast is well under way, but the funding needed to build it has still not been agreed. |
| French company EDF said it was confident a final investment decision on Sizewell C would be made this summer. | French company EDF said it was confident a final investment decision on Sizewell C would be made this summer. |
| Meanwhile, the cost of its sister project, Hinkley Point C in Somerset, has risen to as high as £46bn. | Meanwhile, the cost of its sister project, Hinkley Point C in Somerset, has risen to as high as £46bn. |
| Opponents have likened Sizewell C to the beleaguered HS2 rail project and said the government should pull out before it is too late. | Opponents have likened Sizewell C to the beleaguered HS2 rail project and said the government should pull out before it is too late. |
| So what is the state of play? | So what is the state of play? |
| Large areas of land have already been cleared in preparation for the building of Sizewell C | Large areas of land have already been cleared in preparation for the building of Sizewell C |
| In east Suffolk, signs of development are hard to miss. | In east Suffolk, signs of development are hard to miss. |
| Thousands of trees have been felled, and huge swathes of land stretching from the outskirts of Leiston to the coast have been cleared for a new construction compound and access road to the Sizewell C site. | Thousands of trees have been felled, and huge swathes of land stretching from the outskirts of Leiston to the coast have been cleared for a new construction compound and access road to the Sizewell C site. |
| Elsewhere, land is being dug up for a new link road off the A12, a new bypass around the villages of Stratford St Andrew and Farnham, and two park-and-ride sites at Wickham Market and Darsham. | Elsewhere, land is being dug up for a new link road off the A12, a new bypass around the villages of Stratford St Andrew and Farnham, and two park-and-ride sites at Wickham Market and Darsham. |
| Work has started to build a new bypass around the villages of Stratford St Andrew and Farnham | Work has started to build a new bypass around the villages of Stratford St Andrew and Farnham |
| The groundwork started a year ago. | The groundwork started a year ago. |
| The twin reactors would generate 3.2 GW of electricity, sufficient to power six million homes. | The twin reactors would generate 3.2 GW of electricity, sufficient to power six million homes. |
| So far the UK government, which has an 85% stake in the project, has pledged £5.5bn towards development work. | So far the UK government, which has an 85% stake in the project, has pledged £5.5bn towards development work. |
| Last month, EDF denied reports that the total cost of the project had risen to over £40bn, up from an estimated £20bn in 2018. | Last month, EDF denied reports that the total cost of the project had risen to over £40bn, up from an estimated £20bn in 2018. |
| It is seeking investors and the government said a final investment decision would be made in June. | It is seeking investors and the government said a final investment decision would be made in June. |
| 'It's all gone' | 'It's all gone' |
| David Grant was shocked by the extent of the clearance for the new Sizewell link road | David Grant was shocked by the extent of the clearance for the new Sizewell link road |
| David Grant's farm at Middleton, near Leiston, has been cut in two by the new Sizewell link road and an access road to the B1122. | David Grant's farm at Middleton, near Leiston, has been cut in two by the new Sizewell link road and an access road to the B1122. |
| He said he had lost 38 acres (15 hectares) of arable land. | He said he had lost 38 acres (15 hectares) of arable land. |
| "Nothing prepared us for the devastation caused," he said. | "Nothing prepared us for the devastation caused," he said. |
| "It's all gone, dug out with machines completely ruthlessly and without any sympathy. | "It's all gone, dug out with machines completely ruthlessly and without any sympathy. |
| "I think this is HS2, but bigger, frankly. | "I think this is HS2, but bigger, frankly. |
| "I've got friends who were involved in the HS2 cancellation and they haven't even been able to repurchase their land. Luckily we have the option to repurchase if this doesn't go ahead." | "I've got friends who were involved in the HS2 cancellation and they haven't even been able to repurchase their land. Luckily we have the option to repurchase if this doesn't go ahead." |
| Metal fences have been erected at Fordley Hall Farm, Middleton | Metal fences have been erected at Fordley Hall Farm, Middleton |
| Thousands of trees have been felled to create the new construction site | Thousands of trees have been felled to create the new construction site |
| 'Every penny they spend is a penny lost' | 'Every penny they spend is a penny lost' |
| Alison Downes from Stop Sizewell C said the cost of the project was prohibitive | Alison Downes from Stop Sizewell C said the cost of the project was prohibitive |
| Opponents of Sizewell C still argue the project should be scrapped before it is too late. | Opponents of Sizewell C still argue the project should be scrapped before it is too late. |
| Alison Downes, from Stop Sizewell C, said: "The taxpayer is being forced to pay for what is basically a bet that this project is a good idea and should go ahead. | Alison Downes, from Stop Sizewell C, said: "The taxpayer is being forced to pay for what is basically a bet that this project is a good idea and should go ahead. |
| "The possibility that Sizewell C could go ahead at whatever price is just completely inconceivable. | "The possibility that Sizewell C could go ahead at whatever price is just completely inconceivable. |
| "Every penny they spend on Sizewell C is a penny lost to cheaper, quicker renewable energy projects that could get us to net zero more quickly and address our climate crisis." | "Every penny they spend on Sizewell C is a penny lost to cheaper, quicker renewable energy projects that could get us to net zero more quickly and address our climate crisis." |
| 'It's nothing like HS2' | 'It's nothing like HS2' |
| Julia Pyke from Sizewell C said the power station will lower electricity bills | Julia Pyke from Sizewell C said the power station will lower electricity bills |
| EDF said it was confident about the cost of building Sizewell C and that there was no comparison with HS2. | EDF said it was confident about the cost of building Sizewell C and that there was no comparison with HS2. |
| Julia Pyke, joint managing director of Sizewell C, said: "We're not going to give a cost estimate for Sizewell C because we are in the middle of negotiations both with suppliers on the one hand, and with investors on the other hand. | Julia Pyke, joint managing director of Sizewell C, said: "We're not going to give a cost estimate for Sizewell C because we are in the middle of negotiations both with suppliers on the one hand, and with investors on the other hand. |
| "It's nothing like HS2. We are building a copy of something that has gone through UK design approvals. | "It's nothing like HS2. We are building a copy of something that has gone through UK design approvals. |
| "We are starting off with an approved design, an experienced supply chain and an experienced workforce." | "We are starting off with an approved design, an experienced supply chain and an experienced workforce." |
| Thousands of tonnes of soil are being moved ahead of construction of the power station | Thousands of tonnes of soil are being moved ahead of construction of the power station |
| Nigel Cann, also joint managing director of Sizewell C, said groundwork away from the nuclear site was a priority. | Nigel Cann, also joint managing director of Sizewell C, said groundwork away from the nuclear site was a priority. |
| "The important thing for us is to get the offsite infrastructure for roads and rail done as quickly as possible so that we minimise the disruption to the local community," he said. | "The important thing for us is to get the offsite infrastructure for roads and rail done as quickly as possible so that we minimise the disruption to the local community," he said. |
| "We're also starting to build the sea defence. We expect to start building the big wall around the deep excavation for the reactors in September this year." | "We're also starting to build the sea defence. We expect to start building the big wall around the deep excavation for the reactors in September this year." |
| LISTEN Sizewell C: Are we any closer? | |
| Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |