THE company behind the proposals for Bradwell B has defended its decision to lodge an appeal against Maldon District Council's (MDC's) refusal to permit investigative groundworks at the site – after anti-nuclear campaigners branded the appeal "inappropriate".

The Bradwell Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) said in a statement yesterday (Friday, 23 October): "The Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) is surprised and concerned that this appeal is being pursued by the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).

"In view of the recent decision by MDC to reconsider its 'in principle' support for a new nuclear power station at Bradwell, it would seem inappropriate for the developer to persist with this appeal.

"Moreover, it is disappointing that a potentially hostile foreign state is appealing against a decision made by UK local politicians representing their constituents."

However, the company behind the Bradwell B plans, Bradwell B Power Generation Company (BRB) responded: "After MDC's decision in August to refuse our planning application for investigative works, we followed due process and submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, the same process as around 100,000 other appeals that have taken place in England in the last five years.

"The investigate works that are now the subject of the appeal are required to better understand the site and will help is develop the Environmental Impact Assessment of our proposals, an important part of the wider planning process.

"The Planning Inspectorate has registered our appeal and we look forward to its decision on whether the proposals are appropriate, having regard to relevant planning policy and other material considerations."

The background to the appeal

The Bradwell company, called the Bradwell B Power Generation Company (BRB) is formed of an alliance between the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and French power company EDF.

When MDC made the decision to refuse permission for the investigative ground works in August, the grounds given included ecological harm.

Then earlier this month MDC decided to reconsider its original support for Bradwell B and voted to support a motion that included the wording: "Grave concerns are raised regarding a new nuclear power station at Bradwell-on-Sea, due to the local environmental impacts, the loss of heritage assets and ecological harm."

BRB's appeal against MDC's decision to refuse permission for the investigative ground works was expected – and legal advice from council officers to councillors would have advised of this and the likely heavy cost implications for MDC in fighting the appeal.

Ultimately, MDC will not make the decision about whether permission for building Bradwell B is given or not: the size, scale and nature of the project means that the Secretary of State will decide on the plans.

However, MDC does get to lodge an opinion on the plans with the Government through consultation. That process is already underway and the council's decision to reconsider its stance on Bradwell B will mean that feedback to the Government will now indicate opposition to the new nuclear plant, rather than support.