Fast track planning as UK goes nuclear

Nov 10 2009 By Trevor Mason, The Journal

Ben Ayliffe, head of Greenpeace’s nuclear campaign, said: "Miliband can name as many sites as he likes for new nuclear power stations, but the fact remains that the figures simply don’t add up.

"You can’t justify building more nuclear power stations when there is no solution to radioactive waste and when international regulators are saying there are huge uncertainties surrounding the basic safety of new reactor designs."

Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: "British business is clear that nuclear power will be a crucial part of a more sustainable future energy mix.

"A faster, more streamlined planning process is also required to safeguard the UK’s energy supply in the decades to come.

"This announcement is a positive step forward and should speed up the construction of badly needed new capacity. What’s more, it could create a substantial number of jobs."

Gary Smith, national officer of the GMB union warned of "foot-dragging in terms of getting on with building these nuclear power stations", claiming: "It is a fact that the economic framework to enable these power stations to be built is not yet in place.

"Any economic framework will require guaranteed pricing, which will need either consumers to pay higher prices or the taxpayers to subsidise the returns to the operators."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This shows that the Government is determined to take the necessary action to speed up the shift to a low carbon economy, a move which will create up to half a million new jobs, make the UK less reliant on energy supplies from overseas and bring substantial environmental benefits.

"The news that several new nuclear power stations are to get the go-ahead will create many new job opportunities and a more streamlined planning process will avoid lengthy delays."