Cumbria set to play vital role in nuclear future

Dec 4 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

CUMBRIA is set to play a pivotal role in Britain’s nuclear renaissance as part of the Government’s Low-Carbon Economic Area for Nuclear.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced the North West and Yorkshire has become Britain’s Low-Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for Nuclear.

It followed this summer’s announcement that Sunderland and east Durham areas had been designated as the Low-Carbon Economic Area for electric and low-carbon vehicles.

LCEA status reflects the Government’s desire for this geographical hub to play a leadership and co-ordination role to accelerate nuclear developments across the whole of Britain.

West Cumbria is the country’s most intensive location for advanced nuclear engineering, fuel reprocessing and decommissioning.

It is home to Sellafield, the National Nuclear Laboratory and National Skills Academy for Nuclear, and the University of Central Lancashire’s recently-revamped campus called UCLan@Westlakes.

These facilities will be bolstered further by the University of Manchester’s £20m teaching and education centre, the Dalton Cumbria Facility.

Cumbria also has three of the 10 sites recently proposed by the Government for new nuclear power stations.

In response to yesterday’s announcement, Stuart Cowperthwaite, programme director of Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria, said: “Cumbria has an important role to play in Britain’s nuclear future and the nation’s shift towards a low-carbon economy.

“It is clear to see the high concentration of nationally important facilities and skills based here – assets which will benefit the Cumbrian economy and provide a crucial contribution to the wider issues of climate change and energy security.”

Roger Liddle, chairman of economic development agency Cumbria Vision, said: “Working alongside industry across the North West and Yorkshire will only strengthen Cumbria’s already world-class nuclear offer.

“This county will play a pivotal role in Britain’s nuclear future and is capable of becoming the only location to provide the entire nuclear cycle from energy generation to reprocessing and disposal.

“It is therefore essential we capitalise on the opportunities arising from LCEA status, which, for example, could give added weight to our push for an improved grid connection.”

The creation of Low-Carbon Economic Areas was outlined in The Low Carbon Industrial Strategy.