Source · National Audit Office

Decommissioning Sellafield: managing risks from the nuclear legacy

Published: 23 Oct 2024 Recommendations: 4 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 4 Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Sellafield nuclear site is not yet achieving value for money due to concerns over project management, the pace of delivery and staffing.

Dept: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Topics: Energy and environmentNuclear power nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

4 items

4 accepted 1 implemented 3 in progress

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	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 Ref Page 12, Recommendation a (following paragraph 21). · Implemented Q4 2026-27	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
2	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. Ref Page 12, Recommendation b (below paragraph 21) · Implemented Q4 2025-26	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	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 Ref Page 12, Recommendation d (below paragraph 21) · Implemented Q4 2026-27	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; HM Treasury; Nuclear Decommissioning Authority	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
4	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. Ref Page 12, Recommendation c (below paragraph 21) · Implemented Q3 2026-27	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

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

4 Jun 2025 Public Accounts C… 28th Report - Decommissioning Sellafield — 16 recommendations · parliament.uk