We were commissioned by EDF Energy to develop a digital environmental statement (ES) for their Sizewell C proposed nuclear power plant in Suffolk in East England. Due to the close proximity of the site to several internationally, nationally, and locally important nature reserves, the client is passionate about protecting this environmentally significant area and offsetting their environmental impact.
We used our powerful, highly customizable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, PlanEngage, that allowed Sizewell C to create, manage and publish a portfolio of interactive digital environmental statements. The Sizewell C project is the world's largest digital environmental impact assessment (EIA) to date with a collection of nine digital ES and ES addenda connected by an overarching introductory digital site. The environmental statements include one for the main development site, one each for the associated development sites, and one for the later published ES addendum. Built initially on the precursor software to PlanEngage, this digital ES has widely been recognized by industry bodies and other organizations, including the UK’s National Infrastructure Planning Association and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, as the best example of digital reporting to date.
The Sizewell C project uses the published Non-Technical Summary (NTS) and the full spatial baseline (i.e. all of the mapping layers) as the basis from which to provide page-specific links to relevant content in the full 40,000-page ES and wider Development Consents Order (DCO) application.
Interactive mapping with unique feature content creates layers of EIA story-telling, giving users the option to explore features or themes in greater detail should they want to.
The Digital ES also includes sections dedicated to verified views and photomontages, with a slider function allowing users to compare states. This feature appears to be the most popular, both amongst clients and stakeholders.
