Nuclear weapons site safety improves

AWE has returned back to "routine regulatory attention"

Improvements to the safety procedures at a nuclear weapons site have returned inspections to "routine", the regulator has said.

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston had been in enhanced regulatory attention since 2013 due to safety issues as a result of ageing facilities and delays to deliver new build projects at the site.

The AWE has returned back to what the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) calls "routine regulatory attention", after improvements to safety were carried out.

Tim Allmark, ONR's Head of Regulation for Weapon's Sub-Directorate, said: "We are satisfied that the site has clearly demonstrated positive steps forward."

Aldermaston, along with its neighbouring site Burghfield, provides and maintains the warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

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.

It also reflects an overall judgement of nuclear safety, nuclear site health and safety and civil nuclear security.

AWE has now demonstrated to ONR that it has the capability and capacity to deliver sustainable safety performance.

Mr Allmark said: "With our enabling regulatory approach, we have worked closely with AWE Plc to ensure required safety improvements have been made.

"We are satisfied that the site has clearly demonstrated positive steps forward in terms of leadership, organisational capability, decision-making, and internal assurance and challenge which has allowed us to return them to routine regulatory attention."

He added: "Our ongoing regulatory activity at Aldermaston will focus on ensuring the improvements in safety performance at the site continue."