Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station safety concerns
There'll be extra checks from the regulator
Last updated 7th Apr 2025
Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station is getting extra checks from the regulator over concerns for safety
The site - which is owned by French firm EDF - has been placed under "enhanced regulatory attention" by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
The watchdog says the station remains safe to operate - and that EDF has submitted an improvement plan.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has moved Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station operated by EDF into enhanced regulatory attention for safety.
ONR has made the decision based on evidence gained from ongoing targeted engagements at the site which have identified areas where improvements are required.
The change in regulatory attention level does not relate to EDF’s recent decision to extend the operating lifetime of the station in County Durham, which is subject to ongoing safety standards being demonstrated.
The enhanced regulatory attention level reflects the effort ONR is using to influence improvements in areas including conventional health and safety, the number of site incidents and the production of nuclear safety cases.
ONR’s inspections and assessments at Hartlepool continue to support the regulatory view that the station remains safe to operate.
Mike Webb, ONR’s Superintending Inspector for Operating Reactors, said: “When required, we place sites into enhanced attention to achieve improved performance in specific areas, which is a key part of our role as an independent regulator.
“It’s encouraging that EDF has already submitted a performance improvement plan to us to address the areas we identified as requiring improvement at the site.
“We have reviewed this plan and are confident it will address our outlined concerns.
“With our enabling regulatory approach, we are committed to working with the licensee to ensure all these issues are addressed.”
Located in County Durham, the site has two advanced gas-cooled reactors which started generating electricity in 1983.
Regulatory attention levels are set by ONR and are assigned based on the regulator’s assessment of overall performance, considering a broad range of safety and operational issues that a site is addressing.
From EDF - Mark Lees, Hartlepool Power Station Director, said: “This power station has an excellent operating and safety record built up over more than 40 years of electricity generation and it is important to note that the ONR has clearly said it has confidence the site can continue to safely operate.
“We have always worked with the ONR to address, and flag, technical issues as they emerge and to ensure they are content with the way we’re working. Our action plan will ensure we continuously improve our performance on those issues identified by ourselves and the regulator.”