EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group 

Our role

Cavendish supported all communications and stakeholder engagement activity relating to the formulation of proposals for Bradwell B. 

Working across local communities, political stakeholders, statutory consultees and government audiences, we delivered a multi-channel engagement programme designed to support consultation and stakeholder participation throughout the DCO process. 

Following the escalation of the pandemic, we rapidly transitioned the consultation programme to a digital-first model, replacing public exhibitions and in-person engagement with virtual consultation tools, online exhibitions, digital briefings and remote stakeholder engagement activity. 

Alongside website development and digital consultation infrastructure, we also managed social media engagement, targeted communications campaigns and the “MyBradwell” community storytelling initiative designed to strengthen local participation and dialogue around the project. 

The challenge

As proposals for the Bradwell B nuclear power station progressed, the project faced the challenge of maintaining effective stakeholder engagement and public confidence within a highly scrutinised and politically sensitive infrastructure environment. 

For EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group, sustaining engagement around a nationally significant nuclear project became even more complex following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted traditional consultation and community engagement activity during a critical stage of the Development Consent Order process. 

The project needed to maintain momentum, accessibility and stakeholder confidence while ensuring communities, political stakeholders and consultees could continue engaging meaningfully with the proposals during lockdown conditions.