Final consultation on proposals for a new twin reactor nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast will not take place until next year at the earliest.
Officials at EDF Energy say they are still analysing feedback from the Stage Two consultation process for Sizewell C and have a “huge amount” of work to do before they embark on presenting final plans for the £14billion project.
Community relations manager John McNamara said it was intended to hold a community forum and circulate a newsletter later in the autumn to give feedback on the last consulation, which was carried out nine months ago.
The Stage Two process generated more than 1,000 responses – some of them highly complex and detailed, tackling a variety of concerns and issues connected with the proposed power plant.
Mr McNamara said: “The standard of the responses was outstanding, high level and complex and we are still analysing and studying the feedback.
“We will hold a community forum and put out a newsletter and visit town and parish council meetings to discuss the feedback and then we will be able to move forward, taking those responses into account, with our proposals and options.”
He said the “ball is firmly back in EDF’s court” and further work was taking place on engineering studies to cost the project and the various detailed aspects of it, such as transporting construction materials.
There would be a lengthy gap before the Stage Three consultation, unlikely until into 2018, because of the preparatory work still to be done.
Mr McNamara said: “It will not be as soon as some people assumed. We will announce the timescale of Stage Three in very good time but there is a huge period of work to be done before that.”
The responses to the last consultation came from county, district, town and parish councils, campaign groups, a wide range of statutory consultees and interested organisations, as well as individuals.
The main topics included the proposed site near Eastbridge for a campus for construction workers, and deep concerns over proposals for road improvements for traffic going to and from Sizewell C, especially on the A12 and B1122.
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