Our role
The Environment Agency is the independent environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England. We make sure that nuclear power stations and radioactive waste disposal sites meet our high standards of environmental protection throughout the stages of design, construction, operation and decommissioning.
Operators of nuclear sites in England must have a permit for radioactive substances activities from the Environment Agency. The environmental permits we issue to nuclear site operators contain strict conditions (rules) that they must follow at all times.
EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd is the operator of Hinkley Point B nuclear site. It needs environmental permits from us to cover decommissioning work at the site.
What’s happening now?
EDF Energy has applied to the Environment Agency to change (vary) its radioactive substances permit. It is proposing to remove some radionuclide limits in its permit because certain radioisotopes are no longer produced. The proposed changes would more accurately reflect the reducing radiological hazard and risks from Hinkley Point B.
Application reference number: EPR/CB3735DT/V008
Regulated facility type: Radioactive substances regulation (RSR) activity. The Hinkley Point B power station is operated by EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd (EDF). Hinkley Point B power station started producing electricity in 1976, using two Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors (AGR). In 2022 the site stopped generating with both of the reactor’s shutdown and isolated. The site is currently in the defueling phase and working towards Fuel Free Status. One of the reactors has been declared Fuel Free and it is anticipated that the remaining reactor will be declared fuel free by the end of 2025.
Regulated facility address: Hinkley Point B power station, Nr Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1UD
Information about the consultation
We launched a public consultation on 3 June 2025 about the content of the application and the supporting documents. The consultation will run until 4 July 2025. We are hosting the consultation on our consultation website.
The company has submitted reports to support its application. The reports and the application details are hosted on our consultation website in the ‘Related’ documents section at the bottom of the page. We have provided a summary in ‘About this consultation’.
Public notice published on GOV.UK
We have also advertised this consultation in the Bridgwater Mercury.
How to comment
Please send your comments on the documents by 4 July 2025.
Online: Radioactive substances permit: EPR/CB3735DT/V008
Email: Nuclear regulation team
By post: For advice about how to make a representation or if you are unable to make a representation via e-mail please call 03708 506 506.
Please contact our Permitting and Support Centre on 03708 506 506 if you need printed versions of the documents. The Environment Agency will normally put any comments it receives on the public register. This includes your name but not your personal contact details. Please tell us if you do not want your response to be public.
| Next steps |
| After the consultation ends we will carefully consider all the relevant feedback received during the consultation, together with existing information. Our decision will be available on the public register by September 2025. Read our public participation statement. |