Hinkley Point B has transferred from EDF to the UK Government’s Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), becoming the first advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) site in England to enter the organisation’s decommissioning programme.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) approved NRS’s site licence on 1 October, allowing the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group subsidiary to take responsibility for the Somerset facility.
Transfer follows defuelling
Hinkley Point B was built between 1967 and 1975 and began generating electricity on 5 February 1976. Its shutdown had originally been scheduled for March 2023, but EDF moved the station into defuelling no later than 15 July 2022 after cracks were found in the graphite core of one of its reactors.
The ONR approved EDF’s decommissioning plans in October 2025. It announced in January 2026 that the station was nuclear fuel-free following the completion of defuelling operations.
The regulator said the licence decision followed “a rigorous assessment by ONR’s specialist inspectors”, who were “satisfied that NRS has demonstrated the necessary capability and competence to hold the licence”. It will continue to regulate safety and security at the site through inspections.
Tom Eagleton, ONR head of safety for decommissioning, fuel and waste sites, said the transfer followed several years of collaboration between government, the NDA group, EDF, the Environment Agency and the Nuclear Liabilities Fund.
“Throughout the process, we have seen strong evidence to support NRS’ site licence application, and we are satisfied it has the skills and capability to safely decommission the site,” he said.
Workforce and environmental oversight
Approximately 250 EDF employees will transfer to NRS, bringing their knowledge and experience to the decommissioning project. NRS already operates at the nearby Hinkley Point A site, where it is carrying out restoration work and preparing facilities for their next stage.
NRS chief executive Rob Fletcher said the organisation would work across both sites to share experience, strengthen local capability and deliver safe, secure decommissioning.
The Environment Agency said it would continue regulating Hinkley Point B during decommissioning, including environmental protection and the management of radioactive waste. It said its initial focus would be on how the site had transitioned to its new operator and whether the operator remained compliant with its permits.
The agency added that lessons from the transfer would be applied to the permit-transfer process for the remaining AGR fleet.
Hinkley Point B’s transfer follows the move of Hunterston B in Scotland to NRS earlier in 2026. The Nuclear Industry Association said Hinkley Point B had generated more clean British power during its operating life than any other station in the country’s history.