Transboundary Environmental Public Consultation - Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station, Suffolk, UK

Transboundary Environmental Public Consultation

Planning Application for proposed Nuclear Power Station at Sizewell C, Suffolk, England, UK

In accordance with the provisions of the 1991 United Nations Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (“the Espoo Convention”), the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government received notification from the UK Planning Inspectorate (“PINS”) in relation to a development consent application (“the planning application”) by NNB Generation Company (SZC) Limited for a proposed Nuclear Power Station at Sizewell C, Suffolk, England, UK. The proposed development includes two UK European Pressurised Reactor UK EPR™ reactor units, giving a total output capacity of approximately 3,340MW, along with associated development required for the construction and operation of the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station, including the mitigation of any potential impacts.

The Sizewell C Project comprises the main nuclear power station facility and associated development in order to facilitate construction and operation of the nuclear power station including;

• Off-shore cooling water infrastructure and other marine works,
• Temporary construction areas and the relocation, demolition and replacement of certain existing ancillary facilities associated with the operational Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station,
• A number of associated development works away from the main site which are required to facilitate construction or operation, including;
  • Two temporary park-and-ride sites to manage additional traffic generated by the construction workforce,
  • Permanent road bypasses, link roads and highway improvements to alleviate traffic and mitigate potential effects on road safety during construction and operation,
  • Temporary freight management facilities during construction, and
  • Temporary and permanent extensions and improvements to existing railway infrastructure

Construction of the new nuclear power station is anticipated to last for 9 to 12 years and the proposed development has an operational design life of 60 years.

The proposed development has been identified as a project within the scope of paragraph 2 of Appendix 1 to the Espoo Convention as implemented by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (“the EIA Regulations”) (UK legislation).

Consequently, the Secretary of State has twice screened the proposal, once at pre-application stage and a second time on receipt of the application. On both occasions, the screening determination specified that the proposed development is not likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects on the environment in this State. However, the Secretary of State decided to notify Ireland as if the development would be likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects on the environment in this State, as provided for in Article 3(1) of the Espoo Convention. The screening assessment is available at:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/document/EN010012-002271 

A member of the public may make a written submission or observation in relation to the potential transboundary environmental effects of the project, by sending them to his or her local planning authority, to be received by close of business on Wednesday 28 October 2020 at the latest. Submissions or observations should not be made to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Contact details for each planning authority are set out in the public consultation notice, which is available to view in the public consultation section of the website of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/other/transboundary-environmental-public-consultation-sizewell-c-nuclear-power-station Correspondence from the UK’s PINS, digital copies of extracts from the applicant’s Environmental Statement, associated documents and links provided by the UK’s PINS to the full Environmental Statement and all other documentation relating to the development consent application for the proposed development.

The public consultation notice is also available to view in the office of the Planning Section of each planning authority nationwide during office hours together with a printed copy of the correspondence from the UK’s PINS inviting Ireland to undertake a transboundary consultation under the Espoo Convention, extracts from the applicant’s Environmental Statement and associated documents that appear to be most relevant for the purpose of the consultation. A copy of these documents is available for inspection, or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, during office hours at the office of each planning authority nationwide.

Due to social distancing measures introduced in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, viewing may be by appointment only in certain local authority offices. It is strongly advised to contact your local authority to clarify the position in this regard before travelling to view the documentation.

All documentation related to the development consent application for the proposed development is also available to view on the website of the UK’s PINs, including any additional information accepted by the UK’s PINS at:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/Eastern/The-Sizewell-C-Project/

Due to the voluminous nature of an application for development consent at this scale, the Applicant has also produced a ‘Navigation Document’, summarising the structure of the application for development consent for the Proposed Development. This document is available from:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/document/EN010012-001619

In the interests of transparency, it should be noted that, following consultation with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, each planning authority will forward to the UK’s PINS all submissions or observations it receives through this public consultation, and may also forward a summary of the submissions or observations.  Submissions or observations received, or a summary of same, may be published on the website of the planning authority concerned or on a website of the UK’s PINS. The DHPLG will not publish any submissions or observations or summary of same.