Evacuation arrangements for Somerset’s nuclear site, Hinkley Point B, have been substantially reduced as the site progresses towards decommissioning. This follows the formal cessation of operations and removal of nuclear fuel.
All UK nuclear power stations maintain a Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ), prepared to evacuate residents living within the area should a nuclear incident occur. Hinkley Point B ceased power generation in 2022 after 46 years of service and was officially declared free of nuclear fuel in January 2026.
Somerset Council, responding to a report from EDF Energy in March, has agreed to eliminate the DEPZ around the former power station, stating that “urgent protective actions are no longer justified.”
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Previously, the DEPZ covered all land within a 3.5-kilometre radius of the site, encompassing the village of Stogursey, the hamlets of Burton and Shurton, and parts of the Steart Marshes nature reserve. With the agreed changes, this zone will be completely removed, as EDF Energy contends the site no longer warrants its inclusion due to defuelling.
Additionally, the Outline Planning Zone (OPZ), which addresses the potential impact of an exceptionally unlikely incident, will shrink from 30 kilometres - reaching beyond the M5 motorway to areas such as Glastonbury and Langport - down to just 1 kilometre.
Neil Kimmins, from Somerset Council’s emergency planning team, reported that a public consultation in June garnered minimal feedback, with only eight individuals attending drop-in sessions. He noted, “Local residents and workers near Hinkley Point were asked about their proximity to the site and their views on the changes at Hinkley Point B. As one parish councillor remarked, ‘Local people know about the lowering risk at Hinkley Point B and are simply not worried.’”
Councillor Leigh Redman, representing Bridgwater North and Central and speaking for the Hinkley Point A & B site stakeholder group, acknowledged widespread recognition that Hinkley Point B has entered a fundamentally different phase. He commented, “We do not object in principle to a proportionate revision of off-site emergency planning arrangements, including removing the DEPZ and establishing a 1-kilometre OPZ.”
However, Councillor Redman emphasised the need for clarity, saying, “This proposal must not be understood as simply ending the emergency plan. Hinkley Point B remains a licensed nuclear site under regulation. The public requires clear, straightforward information on what is changing and what remains the same, including who will be responsible for warning and protecting the community if an incident occurs. Community confidence depends on transparency, continuity, and clear communication alongside technical assessments.”