The government has injected an extra £170 million to speed up construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power station.
The funding will be used to prepare the site on the Suffolk coast for future construction, procure key components of the project’s supply chain and expand its workforce.
At the peak of its construction, Sizewell C is expected to support 10,000 jobs across the country, with supply chain plans for 70% of the value of construction contracts committed to UK businesses.
The ad follows the release last week of Great British Nuclear, an independent body to drive the deployment of new nuclear power stations across the UK.
The government said the measures would help attract private investment in new nuclear projects, along with the introduction of the regulated asset base funding model for nuclear power and the inclusion of nuclear in the UK’s “green” energy mix.
The funding is added to the Investment plan of 700 million euros established in 2022 to fund the development of Sizewell C so that a final investment decision could be made.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said Sizewell C represented the bridge between the ongoing construction of Hinkley Point C and the government’s long-term ambition to provide up to a quarter of the UK’s electricity from homegrown nuclear power by 2050.
“Following the launch of Great British Nuclear and our plans for a massive revival of nuclear power, I am proud to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to the continued development of Sizewell C,” he said.
Andrew Bowie, minister for nuclear and networks, said the measures would allow work to start on the site as soon as possible.
“The steps we are taking today will speed the development of one of our largest projects, Sizewell C, towards final approval, which would allow construction to start as soon as possible, supporting thousands of jobs for communities in Suffolk and across the country,” he said.
