New Nuclear Power Stations: what would the archaeological impact be?

Submitted by Dan Hull on Mon, 2009-05-18 11:29
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The CBA has responded to a Department of Energy and Climate Change consultation on the siting of new nuclear power stations.

In January 2008 the Government decided that nuclear should have a role to play in the UK’s future energy mix along side other low carbon energy sources and that it would take steps to facilitate the construction of new nuclear power stations. The Government is undertaking a process (called the Strategic Siting Assessment) to identify sites which are suitable or potentially suitable for the deployment of new nuclear power stations by the end of 2025 which includes assessing the sites using set criteria. Full details of this consultation can be found on the DECC website.

The CBA has emphasised on a previous occasion the importance of including a consideration of non-designated and locally significant archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes in the assessment process. In responding to this latest consultation, we note that some non-designated heritage sites are incorporated in the supplementary information for amenity and cultural heritage (as well as designated heritage assets, i.e. scheduled sites and listed buildings) but this is far from comprehensive and not considered at all for some sites. We urge that proper consideration is given to non-designated heritage assets and to information about historic landscape character in the case of all the sites on the shortlist, and that marine and intertidal cultural heritage should be afforded the same careful assessment as for terrestrial sites.

The CBA has also urged careful consideration be given in the assessment process for nuclear power station sites at Braystones, Kirksanton and Sellafield in Cumbria. A major factor is the status of the Lake District as a candidate for World Heritage Sites status. The Lake District is on the tentative list for nominations published by the Government in 1999. In an initial assessment for UNESCO by ICOMOS and IUCN in 1986/7, the proximity of the nuclear power facilities at Sellafield, sited close to the edge of the National Park, was a key factor in the nomination being rejected.

For a copy of the CBA’s response to this consultation, and a full list of all CBA responses and updates, visit the Consultation Responses and Campaign Statements pages.