The UK government has published its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS), which names 10 sites suitable for new nuclear deployment by the end of 2025. The document explains why new nuclear power is needed, and states that the government is satisfied there will be 'effective arrangements' to manage and dispose of the waste generated from new plants.
10 of the 11 sites nominated by industry in March have been assessed as potentially suitable for new nuclear deployment by the end of 2025: Bradwell, Braystones, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Kirksanton, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa.
Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The threat of climate change means we need to make a transition from a system that relies heavily on high carbon fossil fuels, to a radically different system that includes nuclear, renewable and clean coal power.
"The current planning system is a barrier to this shift. It serves neither the interests of energy security, the interests of the low carbon transition, nor the interests of people living in areas where infrastructure may be built, for the planning process to take years to come to a decision.
"That is why we are undertaking fundamental reform of the planning system, which will result in a more efficient, transparent and accessible process."
The six draft NPS (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables, transmission networks and oil and gas pipelines) are a crucial part of reforms that will remove unnecessary planning delays facing large energy proposals. They will be the basis of planning decisions made by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission from March 2010.
10 of the 11 sites nominated by industry in March have been assessed as potentially suitable for new nuclear deployment by the end of 2025: Bradwell, Braystones, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Kirksanton, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa.
Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The threat of climate change means we need to make a transition from a system that relies heavily on high carbon fossil fuels, to a radically different system that includes nuclear, renewable and clean coal power.
"The current planning system is a barrier to this shift. It serves neither the interests of energy security, the interests of the low carbon transition, nor the interests of people living in areas where infrastructure may be built, for the planning process to take years to come to a decision.
"That is why we are undertaking fundamental reform of the planning system, which will result in a more efficient, transparent and accessible process."
The six draft NPS (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables, transmission networks and oil and gas pipelines) are a crucial part of reforms that will remove unnecessary planning delays facing large energy proposals. They will be the basis of planning decisions made by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission from March 2010.
