Planning changes 'to ease nuclear programme'

PlanningResource, 10 January 2008

Business secretary John Hutton today called on private energy firms to bring forward new plans for stations.

He said that the bill's proposal for a national infrastructure commission would ensure debates on matters of principle do not hold up local planning inquiries.

He told the Commons: "The Sizewell B inquiry lasted 340 days but only 32 of those were spent on local issues, so anyone defending the current system is not living in the real world."

But Conservative MP John Gummer warned that the bill could cut local people out of the consultation process altogether, which could result in delays from protests.

Prime minister Gordon Brown warned at the weekend that the UK would become more dependent on foreign sources if a decision on nuclear power was not made.

The government could still face a legal challenge from Greenpeace over any go ahead for new nuclear reactors.

Executive director John Sauven said: "Generations to come will be left with an expensive legacy of our nuclear waste to clean up.

"The Scottish government maintained its strong stance against nuclear generation.

Energy minister Jim Mather said "Installed renewables in Scotland already exceeds that of nuclear power. We can achieve secure, clean, low carbon energy without adding to the burden of toxic radioactive waste."