What's Happening to the Suffolk Countryside?

Posted: 15th April 2025

“Well, we didn’t think this would happen,” the continuing cry heard from locals as residents, old and new, bare witness to the wholesale devastation happening throughout this special part of East Anglia. Who would have thought over 30,000 trees and still counting would be felled and miles of hedges grubbed out at the start of nesting season?

This destruction is all being funded by us, the U.K. taxpayer, with no consideration to the environmental cost, even though it is clear there are still many uncertainties surrounding the project and it is a possibility the Sizewell C project may never be completed, not least because a Final Investment Decision is yet to be made.
There is total disregard to the fact that the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are intrinsically linked, so it is no wonder the U.K. is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries.

 A fitting send-off to an environmental hero Pete Wilkinson

On a sunny Friday afternoon in March, we bid an emotional farewell to Pete Wilkinson, founder of Greenpeace UK and long-time Chair of TASC. Over 100 folks attended Seven Hills Crematorium, followed by a gathering at Sibton White Horse. There were many personal tributes paid to Wilks, from his daughter Amy to his old friend from Dartford, John Morton, who had travelled from Australia to say his goodbyes to his old pal..

We all miss Pete’s sound advice and direction, so together with the family and Stop Sizewell C, we will be holding a get-together, Sizewell C protest and tribute to Pete on Saturday, 7th June from 11am on Sizewell Beach. All welcome. Details to follow.
  

 

What is the true cost of Sizewell C?


This government, currently an 86% shareholder in Sizewell C Ltd and their partner in the company, developer EDF, still refuse to come ‘clean’ about the true cost of Sizewell C, citing ‘commercial sensitivities’ as their excuse. In TASC’s opinion, claims of commercial sensitivity about the total construction costs are purely a cover to prevent objective scrutiny. Non-publication of individual investor company terms, etc, is understandable before their finalisation but not construction costs – there is no competition, and the taxpayer and electricity consumer will be exposed to meeting the construction costs, as well as contingent risks and liabilities. EDF published the £20 billion build cost estimate in 2020 at the time of the DCO application, so why not an updated figure now? Recent reports are suggesting it will be more likely to be £40 billion. The UK public, as majority shareholders and those who will bear the majority of risk, financial impact and environmental degradation arising from this project, surely have a right to know this exposure before the FID is signed off, if it ever is.

We are now in a position where the previous and current government have committed £8 billion of public funds to the Sizewell C project ahead of a FID, of which £6.4 billion has been formally released for payment, including £2.7 billion announced earlier this month. This was the subject of media reports, including one from the New Civil Engineer, which referred to TASC’s press release.

“While this government continues to target the most vulnerable members of society to reduce public expenditure, TASC consider the decision to splurge a further £2.7bn on risky Sizewell C represents appalling and reckless behaviour from the Chancellor. She promised all government outlay would be “fully costed & fully funded” and that she would never “play fast & loose with public funds”, yet Ministers still refuse to disclose Sizewell C’s build cost, also this announcement comes ahead of the government’s spending review and before a final investment decision on the project.”

 French government-owned EDF have only invested £660 million so far, taking total outlay, including government investment, to just over £7 billion. This is a huge increase from EDF’s original statement that pre-FID costs were estimated at £478 million, but EDF underestimating nuclear build costs is nothing new. 

 Will we have a ‘Nuclear Moment’ & a visit from the Prime Minister sometime soon?


More recently, The Times has reported that Keir Starmer intends to have a ‘nuclear moment’ and announce the Sizewell C FID ahead of the June spending review. This was also reported in the East Anglian Daily Times, including a reference to TASC’s press release.
“It is staggering that Starmer is willing to sacrifice one of the UK’s most biodiverse areas and the precious Suffolk Heritage Coast for an ideological pursuit of growth in the form of new nuclear. Few can disagree that nuclear power is costly, potentially dangerous, slow to deploy, capital (not labour) intensive & is not ‘clean,’ condemning future generations to deal with the toxic legacy of thousands of tonnes of spent nuclear fuel. The £billions allocated by government to Sizewell C would be better spent on renewables and alternatives.”
TASC has taken the opportunity on social media to remind Sir Keir that Sizewell C is Boris Johnson’s ‘nuclear moment’ and vanity project, when Johnson, at the Sizewell site, announced on his September 2022 departure from office, “I say go nuclear, go large and go with Sizewell C”. So, no change here from Starmer and the Labour Party as they favour big business and wealthy corporations over, looking after the more vulnerable members of society.
  

 Local News: Rents rise on par with London Prices!

‘A Suffolk community must not become a “rental town for Sizewell C workers”, its mayor has said, amid concerns about rocketing rental prices’ EADT.

During the DCO examination, TASC warned the Planning Inspectors that this is exactly what would happen. At the time (July 2021 ), TASC advised the ExA that the impact on local housing rentals would be great. Where and how will locals, especially the young, find accommodation and a home? These implications are hard to mitigate, if not impossible. LINK

Not sure at the time that we could have envisioned that rents, especially in Leiston, would climb to such extortionate highs and exclude those who are not working on the project but perhaps work in the care industry, retail, or hospitality.
The bottom line is that even with the campus at Eastbridge, still to be built, and Pakefield holiday camp, there just is not enough rental accommodation in the area without having a detrimental effect on locals.   


Heras fencing and primroses, a familiar sad sight along our Suffolk country lanes. 

 

 TASC letters written to Government

31st January 2025 to Ed Miliband in response to the Secretary of State’s reply to Pete Wilkinson’s letter concerning the content of Ed Miliband’s speech at the Nuclear Industry Association conference on 6th December 2024.LINK

Letters of 31st January and 14th March 2025 setting out TASC’s request for HM Treasury to carry out a value for money (VfM) assessment, a review of the risk assessment covering the government decision to commit many billions from the public purse ahead of a FID, as well as advising of the many major outstanding issues relating to the Sizewell C project.

12th February 2025 to the Public Accounts Committee and the Chair of the new Office for VfM about the finance risks associated with the project.

6th March 2025 to Ed Miliband, calling on him to agree that material changes to the approved Sizewell C DCO need to be assessed or the DCO revoked.

14th March 2025 to independent Chair of the new Office for Value for Money asking for him to review Sizewell C’s VfM assessment.

20th March 2025 to Bill Esterson, Chair on the Commons ESNZ Committee, advising of reasons why all in government should have grave concerns regarding the many billions that have been allocated to the SZC project from the public purse, ahead of a FID and before the ONR have completed their site safety case assessment.

Letter of 27th March 2025 to Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, providing reasons why Centrica should not invest in Sizewell C.

What is clear from the responses that we have received to our correspondence is that other government departments pass TASC’s queries on to DESNZ, meaning that DESNZ are, in effect, being allowed to ‘mark their own homework’ with little external scrutiny.  

TASC is extremely grateful for your continued support – the fight goes on.

 

Find out more – call Caroline on 01722 321865 or email us.