The UK government has pledged £14.2 billion to the long-delayed Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, positioning the project as a cornerstone of its strategy to boost energy independence and lower long-term household bills.
Announcing the funding, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the investment as vital for Britain’s national security and economic stability. “We’re not writing a blank cheque,” he said, “but this gives us control over our energy and shields us from global market shocks.”
The project, a partnership with French state-owned energy company EDF, has been on the drawing board for over a decade. It is expected to eventually provide electricity for six million homes, support the UK’s net zero ambitions, and create more than 10,000 construction jobs and 900 permanent positions.
Despite its potential, the plant is not scheduled to begin generating electricity until the mid-2030s, meaning any impact on consumer bills will not be felt for at least another decade. The £14.2 billion committed so far — including £2.7 billion allocated in last year’s Autumn Budget — will fund just the next five years of development, with total costs estimated at between £20 billion and £40 billion.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband defended the investment, calling it essential to Britain’s future energy mix. “Nuclear offers clean, reliable baseload power to complement wind and solar,” he said. Trade unions welcomed the jobs boost, with GMB and Prospect both hailing the project as key to achieving net zero targets.
However, critics argue the government is taking a financial gamble. Environmental groups and local campaigners have raised concerns about the project’s carbon footprint, high costs, and risks of delays. Farmer David Grant, whose land will be divided by a new access road, criticised the funding as “outrageous”, while campaigner Jenny Kirtley said she was “devastated” by the changes to the local landscape.
Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C warned that taxpayers could be left exposed to rising costs, as seen with EDF’s troubled Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, which is years behind schedule and significantly over budget. EDF has disputed the £40 billion cost figure, but investor confidence remains shaky, with private funding for Sizewell C still not fully secured.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has been awarded a £2.5 billion contract to build three new nuclear reactors, signalling the UK’s broader shift toward expanding nuclear capacity.
The Department for Energy Security described the Sizewell investment as part of a wider effort to “deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation”, though it offered little detail on how the two initiatives are connected.
As construction ramps up and debate continues, ministers are betting that nuclear will play a central role in a future powered by cleaner, more stable energy — even if the benefits remain a decade away.
