The Court of Appeal has granted permission for a legal challenge against the Sizewell C nuclear power plant on environmental grounds, reversing the High Court's initial dismissal of the case brought by the local pressure group Together Against Sizewell C (TASC).

TASC, consisting of residents living near the project in east Suffolk, argues that the approval for the power plant was given by the then-Energy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, against the advice of the Examining Authority (EA). One of the EA's concerns was the lack of details regarding the potential environmental impact of a large desalination plant associated with the project.

The case revolves around the potential impact of the power plant on local water supplies, and TASC now has the opportunity to appeal the High Court's decision to refuse a judicial review. TASC's chair, Jenny Kirtley, believes the appeal has a genuine chance of success.

Friends of the Earth's Suffolk branch is supporting TASC in its legal efforts, arguing that the full impact of the plant on water systems has not been adequately assessed, and there is insufficient information on preventing damage to a nearby nature reserve.

EDF-led spokespeople for the nuclear project have expressed their intention to defend the government's decision to grant a development consent order for Sizewell C. They remain confident in the project's prospects and do not believe the legal challenge news will affect private investment.

The UK government recently opened a platform for prospective private investors interested in supporting Sizewell C, with an emphasis on those with substantial experience in major infrastructure projects. The project is expected to cost a minimum of £20 billion, with at least 60% of the funding to come from private investors.

The regulated asset base model is being used to fund Sizewell C, allowing investors to recoup some of their costs through taxation during the construction phase. The UK government has committed over £1 billion to the project to date, with additional funding aimed at site preparation and workforce training.

Sizewell C is considered a critical component of the UK's civil nuclear revival and aligns with the government's goal to have up to 24GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, including both large-scale and small modular reactors.