Brit Energy shows hand on N-sites

Dungeness in Kent, Bradwell in Essex and Sizewell in Suffolk were today named as preferred sites for the building of atomic reactors by nuclear electricity generator British Energy.

Speaking at British Energy's annual meeting, chairman Sir Adrian Montague said the company is determined to play a "pivotal role" in new nuclear build and has "a wealth of information" on which to draw.

"We have been gathering environmental and marine data for over a year so that we can be in a position to make rapid progress in submitting consent applications," he told shareholders.

"We have recently held a series of public meetings with the communities around Sizewell about our proposals for a twin nuclear unit there and we are scheduling similar meetings for our other lead sites Hinkley Point [in Somerset], Dungeness and Bradwell."

Dungeness, Bradwell and Sizewell are understood to have been identified as favoured sites as they are the closest available to London.