Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental effect of Bradwell B nuclear plant in Essex.

As part of the process to designate a National Policy Statement (NPS) for nuclear power generation in 2011, the Government undertook a strategic siting assessment of potentially suitable sites, including an Appraisal of Sustainability. The conclusions of these assessments were included in an annex to the final NPS. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47860/1943-nps-nuclear-power-annex-volII.pdf.

The Government is working towards a new NPS for nuclear power stations deploying after 2025 and intends to consult on a draft NPS in 2019. Siting assessments and Appraisals of Sustainability will be undertaken for those sites listed in the draft NPS.

CGN’s UK HPR1000 reactor, which is proposed for deployment at Bradwell, commenced the GDA process in January 2017. More information can be found at www.ukhpr1000.co.uk/. The GDA is a robust process conducted jointly by the Office of Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency over many years, ensuring that all aspects of new station design, including safety, security and environmental impacts, are properly assessed prior to construction and operation.