NDA gives companies one month to submit proposals on its sites

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has given companies a month to submit proposals for new developments on its sites.

The authority indicated in January it would invite development proposals and has now asked companies to say which assets they are interested in.

The government said there had been 鈥渃onsiderable interest鈥� from the energy industry over the plans, in which the land, the fuel manufacturing business at Springfields and uranic material could be used in building or operating the next generation of stations, or for other commercial purposes.

The move follows government's support of a new nuclear generation programme as set out in the Energy White Paper.

John Hutton, business secretary, said: "Interest in building new nuclear power stations in the UK is strong. Planning applications for new plants are likely to focus on areas in the vicinity of existing sites and so it's welcome that the NDA is making its significant land and other assets available to the market."

The NDA owns 18 existing sites. Wylfa in north Wales, and Oldbury in south Gloucestershire are still operation and the rest are in decommissioning.

In addition to asking for proposals, the government will carry out a Strategic Siting Assessment to look at potential sites for stations.