Nuclear power station handed an extra year

HUNDREDS OF JOBS SECURE FOR ADDITIONAL 12 MONTHS

- By HOLLY WILLIAMS

TWO British nuclear power stations have been given further one-year extensions in a move securing more than 1,000 jobs for longer.

Both Hartlepool and Heysham 1 in Lancashire - majority-owned and run by French firm EDF Energy - are now expected to generate electricity until March 2028, one year later than previously expected.

EDF said the decision was taken after a series of positive graphite inspections at both stations over the past nine months. British Gas owner Centrica, which has a 20% share in the two stations, hailed the decision as “great news”.

The two stations provide enough electricity to power more than four million homes a year. It follows previous one-year extensions for all four of EDF's UK AGR sites, which had been announced in December 2024.