The Government believes it is in the country's long-term interest that nuclear power plays a role in providing Britain with clean, secure and affordable energy.
Its White Paper on Nuclear Power - ‘Meeting The Energy Challenge', published in January 2008, - outlined the steps that need to be taken in the future to secure Britain's long-term energy supply by investing in a new generation of nuclear power stations.
In April 2009 the Government published a list of sites nominated for new nuclear power stations, including EDF Energy's sites at Hinkley Point, Sizewell, Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham.
The Government published its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS) for consultation in November 2009. This includes a list of sites potentially suitable for new nuclear power stations, including all the nominated EDF Energy sites with the exception of Dungeness.
Public consultation on the draft Nuclear NPS closed on 22nd February 2010. Subject to this consultation, and Parliamentary scrutiny, the Government intends to finalise and formally approve the document in 2010.
Further information on the Government's consultation is available from: www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk|
EDF Energy intends to apply to the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to build new nuclear power stations at Hinkley and Sizewell under the procedures set out in the Planning Act 2008.
