Campaigners initiate judicial review process against decision to approve nuclear new build
The decision to green light construction of Sizewell C could be set for a judicial review after campaigners against the proposed nuclear power station initiated legal action.
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng approved the 拢20bn scheme last month after a series of delays, despite the Planning Inspectorate鈥檚 warnings about its environmental impact.
Kwarteng said the 鈥渢he very substantial and urgent need鈥� for the EDF-led development outweighed the potential harms to the local water supply outlined by the inspectorate.
Campaign group Together Against Sizewell C (TASC) has now sent a pre-action protocol letter, signalling the start of judicial review process challenging the decision, which it contends is 鈥渦nlawful鈥�.
The Planning Inspectorate鈥檚 report to the business secretary stated that 鈥渦nless the outstanding water supply strategy can be resolved鈥�, the case for granting consent was 鈥渘ot made out鈥�.
The UK government has already committed 拢100m toward the two-reactor plant and intends to take a 20% stake in the development, which will generate 7% of the UK鈥檚 energy needs when complete.
The power station is near identical to the one currently being built by Laing O鈥橰ourke, Bouygues and Balfour Beatty at Hinkley Point in Somerset, which will also be operated by EDF.
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