The proposed new nuclear power station at Bradwell, which could create up to 9,000 jobs during construction, followed by 900 permanent roles, is starting public consultation.
Beginning this week and running for 12 weeks, exhibitions will take place at 15 venues where the Bradwell B team will be available to answer questions, whilst details of the proposals will be available to view online.
The Bradwell B project has also provided funding to Planning Aid England to deliver bespoke, independent and free guidance and advice to local parish and town councils during the consultation.
Bradwell B’s CEO, Alan Raymant said: “Consulting with you all over the next few years is a crucial part of developing our project plans and I really want to encourage everyone in the community to get involved.
“This is a large construction project that will result in a power station operating for more than 60 years – working together with the community we need to carefully consider how we manage any impacts and deliver the benefits in terms of jobs and skills as well as a big contribution to the Government’s carbon net-zero ambitions.”
The proposals include artist’s impressions of how the power station would look and explain the components of the power station that need to be built, including two UK HPR1000 reactor units, turbine halls, cooling infrastructure, power transmission, sea defences, and waste facilities.
The consultation will address the plans for associated development required to enable construction and operation, such as temporary worker accommodation, marine transport facilities, and road and junction improvements, as well as how the surrounding areas will be landscaped, and how the impacts of construction for the local environment will be managed.
New nuclear power station projects bring significant economic benefits, including the creation of 900 permanent jobs for over 60 years, as well as 9000 jobs during the busiest construction period, 3000 of which would go to local people, and more than 1,200 apprenticeships. There will be potentially thousands more jobs throughout the regional supply chain, which would be formed by everything from engineering firms, to taxis and security companies, catering and accounting services.
When built the 2.2GW power station would be capable of generating enough low-carbon electricity to power 4 million homes, significantly helping to deliver the Government’s commitment to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Mr Raymant said: “I am delighted that we will be creating at least 1200 apprenticeships at Bradwell B. Around 3000 jobs during peak construction will be filled by local people and so we need to make sure people are ready to take advantage of that opportunity. Delivering skills and education opportunities that work for Essex is, therefore, a huge part of what we need to do to build Bradwell B.”
The proposals for Bradwell B will be developed over several years before the project submits a Development Consent Order application to the UK Planning Inspectorate. Ultimately, the decision to grant permission will be taken by the Secretary of State. This process runs in parallel to the UK regulators’ Generic Design Assessment, and various other licensing and consenting processes by regulators and the UK Government.