FAQs: WYLFA

• Why have you nominated Wylfa as a potential location for a new nuclear power station?

Wylfa is the site of an existing nuclear power station and is an excellent location for a potential new plant which would deliver much needed, low carbon, power generation. The population of Anglesey, along with political and business groups, have been supportive of the idea, and this is a very important consideration.

Crucially, Anglesey also has a highly-skilled nuclear workforce and good cooling facilities. It also has vital infrastructure, including a connection to the national electricity grid. The Wylfa Peninsula is on a hard rock site providing excellent foundation conditions for a nuclear station and is sufficiently high above sea level to avoid serious flood risks.

• What is the status of the nomination of the Wylfa area for possible nuclear development?

The Wylfa area was nominated as a potential nuclear development site by both the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and RWE npower.

In November 2009, the Government published a draft Nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS) which contained a list of sites it believed were strategically suitable for new nuclear build. Following public consultation, the final Nuclear National Policy Statement was published in June 2011 listing Wylfa and seven other UK sites as being strategically suitable for new nuclear build. The Nuclear NPS, along with its list of sites, was approved by a vote in Parliament on 18^th July 2011.

Following formal 'designation' of the Nuclear NPS, developers may apply to the Infrastructure Planning Commission for planning permission to develop a new nuclear power station. Before making an application, a developer would be expected to conduct an extensive environmental assessment and consultation with affected communities. We anticipate a new nuclear power station at Wylfa would be generating electricity around 2020.

• How would the local community benefit?

A new station could create up to 5,000 jobs during the construction period and around 800 permanent operational, training and maintenance roles, potentially increasing to up to 1,000 during periods of planned maintenance. Our experience shows that a significant power station development injects many millions of pounds per year into the local economy once it is up running through indirect employment and the demand for goods and services from local businesses. It is also likely that a new nuclear power station could help cement Anglesey as a centre of expertise in nuclear technology, leading to far-reaching long-term benefits.

• What will a new power station look like?

Modern nuclear power stations are large industrial facilities, but they have been designed to be as compact as possible. The exact appearance depends on the type of technology used. For computer generated images of the technology currently being assessed in the UK, please click here to the Technology page of the website.

Although the exact location of a new nuclear power station has yet to be determined, we are currently looking at a site immediately to the south of the existing Wylfa A station. We would work with Anglesey County Council to minimise the visual impact. Every effort would be considered to limit any negative impact on the local community, including substantial landscaping.

• What will you be doing about access to the 'landlocked' Wylfa Head, and will you be maintaining the existing network of footpaths?

From the feedback we have received, we recognise the importance of Wylfa Head to the community and the role the public footpaths play in the area. At this early stage we don't have detailed answers, but we would either maintain, re-route or replace any footpaths that were affected by a new nuclear power station at Wylfa. We are talking to the local Community Council about this and the details of specific public footpaths would be determined in the course of a planning application.