A PUBLIC consultation has been launched in South Gloucestershire over features that could be put in place at the proposed new power station in Oldbury.

The plans would see the Horizon nuclear power station use at least two Hitachi-GE UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (UK ABWR) which not only have enhanced reliability and safety features, but are also the most advanced reactor in commercial operation anywhere in the world.

As part of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for licencing and permitting the development, environmental regulators have begun consulting the public in a 12-week-long consultation, which runs until the end of March 2017.

The 170 hectares of land next to the former nuclear power station at Oldbury was included on the Government's list of sites deemed potentially suitable for new nuclear development.

Horizon say that a new nuclear power station at Oldbury could generate a minimum of 2,700MW of low carbon electricity, substantially more than the previous station.

A community drop in event has been announced, which will be held by the Environment Agency on February 8 at Turnberrie’s Community Centre in Thornbury.

Saffron Price-Walter, GDA manager at the Environment Agency, said: “It’s our job to ensure that any new nuclear power station will meet high standards of environment protection and we are keen to hear from the local community around Oldbury.

“All comments made during this consultation will be carefully considered and can help to inform the assessment and decisions about the UK ABWR design.”

To view the Environment Agency’s online consultation, go to www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gda-of-hitachi-ge-nuclear-energy-ltds-uk-advanced-boiling-water-reactor

For more information on the plans for the new power station, call 0800 130 3125, visit www.horizonnuclearpower.com/oldbury or email oldburyenquiries@horizonnuclearpower.com