The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

31 October 2006

In line with its Strategy approved by Government in March, the NDA has been reviewing the most appropriate way forward for the Windscale, Capenhurst and Calder Hall sites.

The NDA has concluded, after discussion with stakeholders, that the Windscale site currently operated by UKAEA, will be re-licensed to the Sellafield Site Licence Company (BNGSL), with UKAEA acting as the principal contractor to take forward this important decommissioning task. As such, the majority of UKAEA staff working on the Windscale site will transfer across to the Sellafield SLC with others remaining in the new UKAEA commercial entity. The two sites will retain their separate site licences until such time as the regulators are sure the safety management regimes can be properly harmonised.

Furthermore, the NDA has concluded that:

• Calder Hall Magnox decommissioning site should remain as part of the Sellafield site and not form part of the future Magnox competition,
• The Capenhurst plant near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, which stores materials from Sellafield, should stay under the control of the Sellafield Site Licensee.

Windscale, Calder Hall and Capenhurst will now form part of the Sellafield competition scope. A PIN notice has been issued for this competition under OJEU regulations and an Industry Seminar is planned for the 28th and 29th November at the Renaissance Hotel in Manchester.