Committee publication · Correspondence · 13 July 2026
Letter from the CEO at Sizewell C relating to a follow-up on the Sizewell C project, 3 July 2026
From: Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry: Sizewell C
Summary
The CEO of Sizewell C provides written responses to questions raised by the Public Accounts Committee following a June 2026 evidence session. The letter details the project's community engagement strategy, governance structures, economic benefits (£26.6 billion GVA, 1,500 apprenticeships), investment in local education (£39.5 million College on the Coast), supply chain commitment (70% UK contracts worth £5 billion), and risk mitigation strategies compared to Hinkley Point C.
Key findings
- Sizewell C's 44.9% government stake is balanced with private investors (La Caisse 20%, Centrica 15%, EDF 12.5%, Amber Infrastructure 7.6%) to combine public oversight with private sector discipline
- Project is 22% cheaper than lowest current Hinkley Point C estimate; Unit 2 at HPC constructs 20–30% faster than Unit 1, demonstrating replication benefits Sizewell C will absorb
- Community engagement includes 40+ Town and Parish Council meetings, 23 community forums, 1,793 workstracker accounts, and £23 million Community Fund over next decade
- Supply chain: 70% of contracts awarded to 3,500+ UK suppliers; £5 billion already committed to 1,000+ UK firms; 77% of steel requirements sourced from UK as of June 2026
- Economic contribution estimated at £26.6 billion GVA during construction; project will deliver 26TWh electricity (7% GB demand), save energy system £2 billion annually, and generate £18 billion net present social value per NAO
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Nigel Cann, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Public Accounts Committee, EDF, Centrica, La Caisse, Amber Infrastructure, National Grid
Notable line
“Sizewell C is currently estimated to cost 22% less than the lowest current estimate for Hinkley Point C, reflecting the benefits of replication.”
Key Quotes
“… once operational, Sizewell C will generate reliable, low-carbon electricity for at least 60 years and provide enough power for 6 million homes”
“NAO expects Sizewell C to deliver up to £18 billion of net present social value compared with alternative low-carbon energy sources”
“Sizewell C will create tens of thousands of jobs across the UK and 1,500 apprenticeships during construction, with at least 540 from Suffolk”
“This structure has been deliberately designed to combine public oversight with private sector discipline. By sharing ownership with experienced infrastructure investors, the project is incorporating lessons learned from challenges which have affected previous government mega-projects.”
“Hinkley Point C was subject to higher delivery risk because it essentially had to restart the UK nuclear construction industry after a long gap in new nuclear build”
“70% of our contracts awarded to more than 3,500 British suppliers. The project has already agreed just under £5 billion in contracts with more than 1,000 UK suppliers.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗