Proposed Nuclear Hinkley Point C Development Pre-Application Consultation Stage 1 INITIAL PROPOSALS AND OPTIONS SUMMARY DOCUMENT NOVEMBER 2009 Hinkley Point C: Initial Proposals and Options Summary Document www.edfconsultation.info e-mail: [email protected] freephone: 0800 169 6507 But we must ensure that development at Hinkley Point is Foreword carried out in the best possible way, recognising the potential impact on people living in the area. I hope this public consultation will help us understand how we can achieve this. A potential multi-billion pound investment at Hinkley Point will provide huge opportunities for local people and businesses during construction and operation of the new power station. We look forward to receiving your views on our ‘Initial Proposals and Options’. They will help us prepare our final plans and make sure that the benefits of new nuclear development at Hinkley Point are maximised. Thank you for your interest in this project. Richard Mayson The Government has decided that new nuclear power stations should have a role in the future electricity Richard Mayson generating mix for the UK1. Director of Planning & External Affairs EDF Energy supports this policy and believes there is an urgent need to invest in new nuclear power stations, both to reduce carbon emissions and to increase the security of our energy supplies. We estimate that the new nuclear power station we propose at Hinkley Point could provide more than 6% of the 1] See ‘Meeting the Energy Challenge’, a White Paper on Nuclear Power, nation’s electricity – a major contribution towards a low BERR, January 2008 and ‘The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, National carbon future. Strategy for Climate and Energy’, HMG, July 2009. 1 Hinkley Point C: Initial Proposals and Options Summary Document www.edfconsultation.info e-mail: [email protected] freephone: 0800 169 6507 After that, we intend to prepare our application and submit The exhibition can then be viewed from Tuesday, 15 Date Event & Location Timings 1 This Consultation this to the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). December to Monday, 11 January between 2pm and 5pm, Saturday, Cannington 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), in EDF Energy’s 28 November Village Hall, High Street, EDF Energy is seeking the views of people living in the Potential area for cooling water The IPC is a new, independent body set up to consider Bridgwater office at 14 King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3DG. tunnels and associated infrastructure Cannington, TA5 2HE vicinity of Hinkley Point and surrounding communities on projects of national importance. Its decisions must be taken plans to build a new nuclear power station. in accordance with national policy but will take into account A full set of the consultation documents may be examined Wednesday, Stogursey [jointly with 2pm - 8pm the local impact of any proposal. at our Bridgwater office throughout the consultation, as 2 December National Grid] Why Hinkley Point? well as online at www.edfconsultation.info and at local Victory Hall, Tower Hill, Stogursey, TA5 1PR • There have been nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point The IPC will receive comments and hold public hearings into libraries and Council offices. Potential area for Thursday, Otterhampton 2pm - 6pm since 1965 temporary jetty our plans before reaching its final decision. • In 1990 permission was granted to build a new nuclear We will also be holding a series of other consultation 3 December Otterhampton Village Hall, reactor on part of the EDF Energy site Scope of Consultation meetings with community and stakeholder groups – for Riverside, Combwich, • EDF Energy consulted in 2008 about plans to nominate We are seeking views on: example, local Parish and Town Councils – some of which TA5 2QS land close to the existing power stations into the • Proposals for the main power station development at may be open to the public. Saturday, Williton 10am - 4pm Government’s Strategic Siting Assessment Hinkley Point 5 December Danesfield School, North Rd, • Hinkley Point was nominated for new nuclear power • Associated development that we believe is necessary to Williton, TA4 4SW development in March 2009 support the construction and operation of the power Monday, South Bridgwater 11am - 7pm station Hinkley Point C development site: 7 December Community Centre, Fore Consultation Process indicative boundary • Dealing with the impacts on, and potential benefits for, Street, North Petherton, TA6 At this stage we are consulting on ‘Initial Proposals and the local community 6QA Options’ for the new nuclear power station. The • Preliminary site works Wednesday, North Bridgwater 2pm - 8pm consultation will be open until 11 January 2010 and 9 December The Exchange, Express Park responses must be received by this date. The principle of whether the site at Hinkley Point is suitable Bridgwater, TA6 4RR for a new nuclear power station will be decided by the All comments are welcome. However, to help you respond, Government. Friday, Burnham-on-Sea 2pm – 8pm we have highlighted some key questions about our Initial 11 December The Princess Theatre, Proposals and Options. You can respond to these online via The safety, security and environmental aspects of the type Princess St, Burnham-on- our website www.edfconsultation.info or by filling out the of nuclear power station we are proposing to build at Sea, TA8 1EH questionnaire at one of our public exhibitions. Hinkley Point C are being considered under the Generic Monday, Bridgwater 12pm – 6pm Design Assessment (GDA) process, undertaken jointly by 14 December EDF Energy office, 14 King There are a number of other ways that you can give us the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3DG your views – please see section 6 for full details. Agency, and by site-specific regulatory processes. The comments and views received will help us to prepare Consultation Events our ‘Prefered Proposals’. We will then hold a further We will be holding a series of public exhibitions, staffed by consultation on those proposals between mid March and members of the EDF Energy project team, to help people mid May 2010. understand and comment on our proposals. Aerial photograph of Hinkley Point Public meeting in Cannington (22 September 2009) 2 3 Hinkley Point C: Initial Proposals and Options Summary Document www.edfconsultation.info e-mail: [email protected] freephone: 0800 169 6507 2 Hinkley Point C Power Station Location of the Power Station The new power station complex is proposed immediately to the west of the existing Hinkley Point power stations. This location has been chosen because: • It is close to the existing power stations • It has access to cooling water from Bridgwater Bay • It is mainly outside designated sites of ecological importance • It is mostly above the flood risk zone and at a suitable level for permanent development • It is able to utilise the existing road access UK EPR Hinkley Point C power station will incorporate two UK EPRs, pressurised water reactors together capable of generating electricity for approximately 5 million homes, and a range of shared facilities. The UK EPR has been designed using the latest technology in nuclear reactors to enhance safety, environmental protection, technical and economic performance. Further information is available via our website: www.edfconsultation.info Cut away drawing of a single UK EPR (illustrative layout) Key A Reactor building E Radioactive waste processing building I Operator building B Four safeguard buildings F Emergency diesel generator building J Pumphouse building C Fuel building G Turbine building K Outfall structure D Nuclear auxiliary building H Power transmission platform L Conventional electrical building Indicative Plan of Hinkley Point C Development (completed) 4 continued on next page 5 Hinkley Point C: Initial Proposals and Options Summary Document www.edfconsultation.info e-mail: [email protected] freephone: 0800 169 6507 Hinkley Point C Power Station continued Components of the Power Station has been generated and disposed of in a suitable disposal • Woodland and other planting to protect long-distance We are also talking to Bridgwater College about the The key permanent components of the power station are: facility, such as the one already operating in Cumbria. views and create new wildlife habitats 3 Associated Development provision of accommodation for up to 120 construction • Main station buildings including the reactor buildings, • Reinstatement of grass meadows workers on the Cannington campus that could be used fuel building, nuclear auxiliary building, turbine halls and Decommissioning • Reinstatement of streams EDF Energy is proposing a package of off-site subsequently by the College ancillary buildings Hinkley Point C is designed to operate for 60 years. It will • Creation of grass meadows and new wetland areas developments to deal with the demands of construction • Supporting infrastructure including cooling water tunnels be built with decommissioning in mind, which should take and operation of Hinkley Point C power station. Travel Plan and pump houses, fuel and waste management facilities, no more than 20 to 25 years. We intend to retain the Hinkley Point Nature Reserve to the A comprehensive plan is needed to move workers to and overhead lines to a new on-site electricity sub-station, south of the existing power stations. Accommodation Strategy from the site and bring in construction materials, while staff facilities, administration and stores Landscaping and Wildlife At the peak of construction we estimate local accommodation minimising disruption to local residents and businesses. • A public information centre to provide educational and We propose to create a landscape buffer along the Footpaths will need to be found for around 2,400 workers. visitor facilities southern boundary of the site to minimise the impact of the Our overall objectives for footpaths and other rights of way The key measures proposed in our travel plan are to: • Access from the main Hinkley Point road and on-site development, particularly during the construction period.