Environment Agency Consultation

Consultation on an application from Sizewell C Limited for a licence to abstract water

Sizewell C is constructing a new nuclear power station in Suffolk.

It needs to dewater the main construction area to create dry working conditions.

The company has applied for a licence to remove groundwater from the main construction area to allow construction works to take place safely. The water would be discharged to the North Sea without being used.

The application is for a full licence to abstract water from underground strata (sand and gravel deposits – crag formation) within two areas in Leiston, Suffolk: Unit 1 and Unit 2.

The abstracted (taken) water from Unit 1 & Unit 2 in Leiston, Suffolk will be transferred to National Grid Reference TM 47980 64343 in the North Sea under the conditions of environmental permit EPR/HB3542KC without intervening use.

The application is to abstract water as follows:

• 900 cubic metres an hour
• 21,600 cubic metres a day
• 4,237,920 cubic metres a year
• between 1 April and 31 March inclusive in each year.

We are holding a consultation on an application we have received from Sizewell C Limited.

You can read the public notice and documents on GOV.UK and our consultation website.

GOV.UK public notice: Sizewell C Limited (NPS/WR/047455): application made to abstract water - GOV.UK
Consultation website: Sizewell C Limited, NPS/WR/047455: New abstraction licence consultation - Environment Agency - Citizen Space

Please quote reference number NPS/WR/047455 in your response.

The consultation closes on 11 September 2026