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REPPIR19/OSEP

Date released
9 October 2023
Request number
202309030
Release of information under
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Information requested

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Further to the ONR's letter dated 24 April 2020, ONR Reference: 2020/111036 Unique Number: ONR-EPR-20-040, Subject heading:  Changes to ONR Land Use Planning consultation zones.  Author: [REDACTED], ONR Inspector - Nuclear Safety, cc [REDACTED], ONR.  Whereby the ONR "request local planning authorities to notify us of any application for planning permission within our consultation zones that meets our consultation criteria." The document further specifies those sites which the ONR wish to be consulted on. 

Bearing in mind the above and noting the subsequent approval of a planning application for a large residential development located within Burghfield AWE's DEPZ following the issuance of the above letter, Planning Application no: 22/00325/RESMAJ (Approval of reserved matters following Outline Permission 18/02485/OUTMAJ [Outline application for residential development of up to 100 dwellings with new cycle pedestrian access onto Coltsfoot Way and two vehicular accesses onto Clayhill Road. Matters to be considered: Access.] Matters seeking consent: Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale. | Land North Of Dauntless Road and South Of Pondhouse Farm Clayhill Road Burghfield Common Reading West Berkshire).  Decision issued 29 July 2022. please provide the following:

  1. Evidence of correspondence whereby the ONR corresponded with the operator (Burghfield AWE) and / or the relevant local authority (West Berkshire District Council) and/or any other parties, ie the SoS, whereby the ONR has highlighted concerns relating to REPPIR19 regulation 10(4).
  2. Evidence of correspondence relating to the adequacy or otherwise of the associated OSEP.

Information released

We have reviewed the correspondence we hold relating to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) nuclear licenced sites and The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR’19) and confirm that under s.1 of the FOIA, we hold some information relevant to your request.

Question 1

Regulation 10(4)(a) refers to whether the operator has prepared an adequate on-site emergency plan. We can confirm that we have carried out a full and complete search for correspondence with AWE relating to Regulation 10(4), however no information was returned, and as such we do not hold it.

Regulation 10(4)(b) refers to whether the local authority has complied with its duties in connection with the off-site emergency plan. We can confirm that a full and complete search for correspondence relating to Regulation 10(4)(b), whether raising concerns or otherwise, has been carried out and no information has been found.

Question 2

This question covers correspondence relating to the adequacy or otherwise of the associated Off-Site Emergency Plan (OSEP) for AWE. We can confirm that we have carried out a full and complete search and have identified and enclosed the following correspondence which relates to the adequacy of the OSEP:

Please note that any information relating to a third party has been redacted from the enclosed documents as it constitutes personal data.

The release of this type of information could identify an individual either directly or indirectly, and as such, any personal data that could identify another individual has been withheld under the remit of exemption s.40(2)

Further information

In relation to the second point of your request, it may be useful to note that ONR’s opinion on the current adequacy of the OSEP is a matter of public record, and this can be found via the following links:

Exemptions applied

s.40

PIT (Public Interest Test) if applicable

N/A