Family’s dream life in £900k country home faces ruin as EDF plans to build nuclear reactor roads right next to them
Around 1,500 HGVs and 6,000 other vehicles will roar past their secluded home during the build - which will take 10 years to complete
A FAMILY is at war with EDF Energy over plans to build a road alongside their 17th-century farmhouse leading to two new gigantic nuclear retractors.
Paul Field and his wife received a letter from the power firm to let them know that they will "suffer adverse effects" from the build next to their secluded property.
The family of five escaped the big smoke and moved to Fir Tree Farm five years ago after being persuaded by the rolling countryside and peace and quiet.
Paul, Michaela and daughters Olivia, 14, Amelie, 13 and Ruby 11 have no neighbours and their £685,000 property is miles from any main roads.
But last October they were told by EDF about the plans for the two huge nuclear reactors, a construction compound in a nearby field to accommodate 300 workers and trucks and a roundabout and road.
The monstrous towers will take 10 years to construct, and at the peak of construction will see 1,500 HGVs and 6,000 other vehicles roar past their secluded home.
The dad-of-three said that the family has no other choice but to move house after the bombshell news.
According to Paul, Sizewell C will cost £14billion and a completion date is yet to be set.
1,500 HGVs PASSING THE HOUSE EACH DAY
Writing for the MailOnline, Paul said: "After making some inquiries, someone with knowledge of the plans told me EDF wants to build a road from the A12 towards Sizewell.
No other property would be impacted as much as ours because the road would go up against the boundary between us and neighbouring farmland.
"Michaela and I felt sick. The level of disruption would make studying and working impossible.
"Both Michaela, a landscape artist and I'm a technology investor and advisor, work from home."
The couple said that they felt there was no other option but to move.
As well as the noise from the construction work, 33ft-high lighting columns will be erected around the roundabout - meaning the family's stargazing evenings will come to an abrupt end.
Construction is set to start in 2021 - when Paul's three daughters would be taking A-Levels and GCSEs.
According to the furious dad, EDF told him that his home will "suffer adverse effects" from the noise.
The couple had the house valued at £900,000 before EDF made the plans public.
But the estate agents gave the family the devastating news that they would have to slash the price otherwise the property won't sell.
Begrudgingly, they wrote to EDF to ask them to buy them out but the firm rejected the offer.
The couple also had plans to build additional accommodation for their parents who were becoming more dependent on the family. These have since been scrapped in the wake of the bad news.
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The family were told that the company would build around their property and wouldn't need to buy it.
Jim Crawford, project development director for Sizewell C, said: "We are asking the local community what they think of plans for Sizewell C.
"We have met with Mr Field and other people who could potentially be affected by Sizewell C proposals, with the most recent meeting held last week.
"We will take on board the feedback we receive and provide appropriate mitigation."
The Sun has contacted EDF Energy for comment.
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