NUCLEAR power operators have announced that their new reactor is moving into its next phase of approval.

EDF energy and Chinese firm CGN have confirmed that the UKHPR1000 model planned for their Bradwell B site in Bradwell has passed Step Two of the Generic Design Assessment.

A spokesman for EDF energy said: “This marks the start of the third step in a four step robust and independent process to seek approval for the design.

“It follows a year of intensive work by teams in the UK, China and France, during which time the UK public has had the opportunity to comment on the design details shared during Step Two.”

EDF and CGN submitted an application through their joint company General Nuclear System in 2016 for a UK version of the HPR1000 nuclear technology.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency have announced that they have completed an initial high level scrutiny of the UK HPR1000 reactor design.

“Step Two is the first assessment step of the regulators’ Generic Design Assessment process in which they assess the acceptability of safety, security and environment protection of the design.

“An initial preparatory step was completed in November 2017.”

A successful completion of the design process normally takes years.

Zhu Minhong, Managing Director of GNS, said: “This is an important milestone for the project, involving many thousands of hours of engineering work, and is a great demonstration of the effectiveness of the CGN and EDF joint venture in the UK.

“I would encourage the public to continue to engage with the process and provide feedback on the next level of detail that is being provided as part of Step Three.”

Step Three will involve deeper analysis but will still be open to public comment.

For details, visit gov.uk/government/collections/assessing-new-nuclear-power-station-designs, ukhpr1000.co.uk or onr.org.uk/new-reactors.htm.