Claims EDF has been 'breaching' Hinkley workforce limits

EDF Energy agreed with Somerset Council that around 8,600 workers would be needed during the peak of the construction programme on the nuclear power station – around 3,000 higher than was originally predicted.

The company agreed to numerous mitigation measures to offset this “worker uplift”, including the expansion of its existing campuses and increasing the number of pitches available at numerous campsites near the power station.

Councillor Leigh Redman has now claimed that EDF have “breached” this limit “for some time”, with up to 11,000 people now actively working on site as a result of being allowed to “mark their own homework”.

Somerset Council said it was “not happy” with a perceived lack of co-operation by EDF, but added the company had not technically broken any of the legal agreements concerning the site.

When the power station was first granted its development consent order (DCO – a form of planning permission for major infrastructure projects), the government set an original limit of 5,600 people who would work on-site at any one time.

Cllr Leigh Redman. (Image: Daniel Mumby) This was put in place to prevent overwhelming pressure on housing, public services and the road network within Bridgwater and the other towns and villages surrounding the Hinkley Point complex.

EDF agreed a “workforce uplift” of 3,000 people in 2022, taking the total to 8,600, which was offset by expanding its existing camp-sites and providing additional funding for local affordable housing schemes.

Mr Redman – one of two Labour councillors for the Bridgwater North and Central division – alleged at a full council meeting on September 26 that the company had exceeded this level for some time, and that the council was not doing enough to keep tabs on its activities.

He said: “It has been known for some time that EDF has been breaching the previously agreed uplifted workforce number on site.

“Originally the limit was 5,600, set by the DCO, and had attached financial penalties should they breach this with financial payments being due if the number of staff exceed limits in specific areas.

“The monitoring is done by Hinkley Point C – in effect, marking their own homework. The limits were put in place to ensure EDF encourages a fair spread of their staff across all areas, limiting concentrations in villages and towns closer to site.

“Travel time to site was always going to be instrumental and increased pockets of staff in some areas would negatively impact on local people by increasing rental costs and decreasing availability of property for them.

“There was an uplift agreed that covered an increase for the numbers already on site, uplifting to 8,600.

“For many months there have been in the region of 11,000 workers on site and living in our communities.

“It looks like we will be asked to agree an uplift that would see more than double the originally agreed number of staff working on site.”

EDF is expected to produce “topic papers” which will lay out the reasons for any increase in workers on the site, as well as details of additional mitigation it will provide to offset their impact.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, responded: “I am really keen to see that matters relating to the workforce uplift are addressed and that EDF works positively and pro-actively with us to do that.

“It does appear in recent times that we are having to press EDF to progress with us, and I am not happy with that.

“The revised topic papers have not been received from the developer. When they are received, we will carry out the detailed consideration of those papers.

“Our officers will assess those papers in detail and work with members through the HPC monitoring group, to which all members with divisions in the HPC impact area are invited.

“We will continue to engage with members through this group throughout the uplift process.

“We have been waiting a very long time for these papers to be delivered, and we won’t be rushed into a response.

“The nature of any mitigation will directly affect whether it is feasible for backdating. However, it is of paramount importance that mitigations are proportionate and for an appropriate length of time.”

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development planning and assets. (Image: Somerset Council) Mr Rigby – who was only appointed to his current role in a reshuffle in August – said EDF had not technically breached any of its legal requirements, but added it was important to hold the company to account.

He elaborated: “While your use of the word ‘breach’ is understood, a technicality of the project is that the number of workers is not under the control of the power station’s Section 106 agreement – therefore, they are not technically in breach of that agreement.

“You are correct, though, that the number of workers on which the previous set of mitigations were based (8,600) has been exceeded, and for some time.

“With regard to ‘marking their own homework’, I’ve asked for the source turnstile data so we can be absolutely sure of the numbers on site over the relevant period.”

EDF is in the process of applying to energy security and net zero secretary Ed Miliband MP to alter the DCO in a number of areas – including the replacement of a planned ‘acoustic fish deterrent’ with the creation of new saltmarshes.

The company had originally intended to deliver around 800 acres of saltmarsh on the Pawlett Hams near Bridgwater; however, officials U-turned in September following a public backlash and other sites are now being explored.

Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, will be staging a debate on the ongoing impact of Hinkley Point C at Westminster Hall on Wednesday (October 9).