Value for Money

Decommissioning Sellafield: managing risks from the nuclear legacy

Published 23 October 2024 4 recommendations Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Energy and environmentNuclear power nao.org.uk
Sellafield nuclear site is not yet achieving value for money due to concerns over project management, the pace of delivery and staffing.

Recommendations (4)

Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker · PAC follow-up below
4
Accepted
1
Implemented
3
In Progress
4
NAO Confirmed
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Rec 1 Accepted Work in Progress
Sellafield should: develop an approach that demonstrates to stakeholders that effective progress is being made towards decommissioning the site. This should cover enabling activities and include progress to date at Sellafield, while also supporting future funding choices and Spending Review decisions
Page 12, Recommendation a (following paragraph 21). Q4 2026-27
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Rec 2 Accepted Implemented
Sellafield should: carry out an assessment of the culture across the site and develop suitable metrics to assess and monitor whether all areas of the site and its leadership are positively contributing to creating a high performing public sector organisation.
Page 12, Recommendation b (below paragraph 21) Q4 2025-26
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; HM Treasury; Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Rec 3 Accepted Work in Progress
HM Treasury should consider what information and evidence it would need from the NDA group to be able to consider longer term settlements. The NDA should explore whether longer-term budgets for Sellafield are feasible
Page 12, Recommendation d (below paragraph 21) Q4 2026-27
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Rec 4 Accepted Work in Progress
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with its group subsidiaries, should: develop measures to assess the operational effectiveness of its sites. In particular, it should monitor whether Sellafield is maintaining the capability needed to continue to operate safely and deliver progress with the mission.
Page 12, Recommendation c (below paragraph 21) Q3 2026-27 Sellafield Ltd

Parliamentary Committee Follow-Up

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

28th Report - Decommissioning Sellafield
Public Accounts Committee · 4 June 2025 · 16 recommendations
View PAC report & government responses parliament.uk