Sizewell C nuclear investment: UK government commits £14.2bn to Suffolk project, promising clean energy and jobs amid public backlash and cost concerns

In a bold and highly controversial move, the UK government has confirmed a £14.2 billion investment in the Sizewell C nuclear power station, a mammoth project set to rise on the Suffolk coast. Ministers claim the development will energise the economy, power millions of homes, and propel Britain toward a low-carbon future—but opponents warn it could become a financial and environmental catastrophe.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the funding ahead of the upcoming Spending Review, calling it “the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation.” The Treasury insists Sizewell C will generate electricity for six million homes, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and directly create 10,000 jobs.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband painted the decision as a historic pivot toward energy independence. “This is the only way to take back control of our energy system and fight the climate crisis,” he said. “Clean, home-grown nuclear energy is not just an option—it’s a necessity.”

Yet not everyone shares the optimism.

Alison Downes, director of the campaign group Stop Sizewell C, accused the government of steamrolling public opposition and hiding key financial details. “They haven’t come clean,” she said. “Negotiations with private investors are still incomplete, and now taxpayers are forced to foot the bill.”

Sizewell C, modelled after the much-delayed Hinkley Point C in Somerset, faces a similarly uncertain timeline. While construction work has already begun on land clearance, full operation remains at least a decade away. Hinkley Point, originally scheduled to come online in 2020, now won’t start generating power until the early 2030s—after racking up billions in extra costs.

Despite these concerns, the government insists nuclear power is vital. Ministers argue that it provides a stable, low-carbon energy source capable of supporting national demand when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

Still, critics remain unconvinced. Over the weekend, around 300 demonstrators gathered on Sizewell beach, waving banners and voicing fears over the plant’s environmental impact. Many residents worry about damage to local wildlife, coastal erosion, and the risk of nuclear waste storage so close to communities.

“The environmental toll will be irreversible,” Downes warned. “They’re bulldozing public trust and ecological safety for a vanity project.”

In parallel with the Sizewell C investment, the government also pledged £2.5 billion over five years for fusion energy research and further support for the defence nuclear sector, including new funding for HMNB Clyde and Sheffield Forgemasters.

The project has the backing of French state-owned energy giant EDF, which holds a 15% stake. Ministers claim multiple investors are lining up, though the final funding model won’t be decided until later this summer.

Sizewell C’s supporters call it the cornerstone of Britain’s energy transition. Its detractors, however, see it as the next HS2—an expensive misjudgement destined to run late, over budget, and under scrutiny.

The debate around Sizewell C reflects a deeper national tension: how to balance ambitious climate targets with fiscal responsibility and community consent. As Britain edges toward a nuclear-powered future, that conflict looks far from resolved.