Site sold for new Sellafield nuclear plant

Plans for a new nuclear power plant at Sellafield moved a step closer today when the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority agreed the £70m sale of a 190ha site bordering the existing plant.

A consortium of Iberdrola GdF Suez and Scottish and Southern Energy will pay £19.5m upfront followed by a further payment of at least £50.5m in the next six years.

The sale represents further continuation of the NDA's programme of asset disposals, all raising funds which the NDA can put towards its core mission of decommissioning the UK's fleet of existing nuclear power stations.

The consortium will now progress with detailed site investigations to determine the exact location for its proposed nuclear development and then apply for the necessary planning and licensing permissions. Land surplus to requirements will be returned to the NDA.

John Clarke, NDA Commercial Director said: "The sale of this land is a significant milestone in our asset disposal programme and follows on from the successful sale of land at three of our sites earlier this year. The £450m generated from these sales will be utilised to support the NDA's clean-up mission and is good news for the UK taxpayer."