Main Development Site

Four species of reptile are known to be present within the main development site area: adder, slow-worm, grass snake and common lizard. During the planning process for Sizewell C, the project published a strategy for limiting the impact on these species during the construction phase. Broadly, this comprised: preparing and managing sites to receive translocated reptiles; capturing and translocating reptiles in areas of the main site; and monitoring the reptile populations throughout all phases of the project. Five receptor sites – Kenton Hills, St James Covert, Studio Field Complex, Great Mount Walk/ Low 40 Acres, and Aldhurst Farm – have been created in advance of impact, providing a total habitat of around 170 hectares.

A number of techniques will be used to capture the reptiles in the areas needed to build Sizewell C, so that they can be moved safely to one of the receptor sites. The current works will support this process; they involve dismantling potential refuges in the areas from which the reptiles need to be moved, so that the habitats become unsuitable. They are currently taking place in the area of the Sizewell C main platform, Goose Hill, Wild Aldhurst, Studio Fields Complex, St James Covert, Kenton Hills and Great Mount Walk.