Why previous Wylfa plans almost took a wrong tern

THE announcement last month that Wylfa had been selected by the UK Government as the first site in the UK for Small Modular Reactors has given the island a major boost.

- By OWEN HUGHES

Newydd plan. Image: Horizon

Nuclear plans have been in limbo ever since Hitachi withdrew from the Anglesey development in 2020 - citing a failure to reach a funding deal with the last UK Government.

It came after years of preparatory work at the site at the cost of around £2bn - with huge funds directed towards trying to secure a Development Consent Order from the UK Planning inspectorate.

Despite the withdrawal being announced prior to the final planning decision the UK Planning inspectorate released the report and recommendations.

This recommended the rejection of the nuclear plan in a 906 page report for the Energy Secretary - although the final decision would have rested with the minister.

The planning inspectors' report said there was a lack of scientific evidence put forward by developers to demonstrate that the Arctic and Sandwich tern (seabird) populations around the Cemlyn Bay area would not be disturbed by construction.