Energy company buys up land next to Oldbury power station

The 119 acres of land next to the existing power station was put on the market by the National Decommissioning Authority (NDA) earlier this year but this week it was announced that E.ON has been the successful bidder.

Colin Scoins, director of development at E.ON, said: "This is great news, but securing the land is simply the first step.

"We have already started talking to local people about our interest in developing a new nuclear plant at Oldbury and are very much looking forward to building on those discussions now we've reached this crucial milestone.

"We firmly believe that the development of new nuclear power stations, alongside cleaner fossil fuels and renewable projects, will be vital if we are to ensure that the UK's homes and businesses have energy that is both as secure and as affordable as possible, while also addressing the very global threat of climate change."

E.ON has already secured a connection to the National Grid at Oldbury and bought land at neighbouring Shepperdine in preparation of building a new power station.

Last month Oldbury was included in the government’s shortlist of sites where new nuclear power stations could be built by 2018, after being nominated by both the NDA and E.ON.

Members of the public still have until next Thursday, May 14 to comment on Oldbury’s inclusion in the list.

As well as land at Oldbury the NDA also confirmed this week the sale of spare land at Bradwell in Essex and Wylfa in Anglesey.

Richard Waite, acting chief executive of the NDA, said: "The sale of these three sites is worth up to £387 million which the NDA will use to help fund the cost of decommissioning and further its core mission."

To comment on whether a new nuclear power station should be built at Oldbury visit www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk Alternatively comment forms are available from South Gloucestershire Council's One Stop Shop in Thornbury. Additional copies are also available at Thornbury Library.