UK energy minister Michael Shanks has asked the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to explore clean energy projects at Moorside in Cumbria, northwest England, including the possibility of new nuclear capacity.

The NDA, the government’s nuclear decommissioning arm, which owns the site next to Sellafield, will work with the local council to explore using the land for clean energy projects – opening up market discussions on privately-backed new nuclear, solar or wind.

Cumbria has a strong nuclear history and the decommissioning work at Sellafield is a national priority. The government said in a statement that any plans for development will consider the requirements of existing major programmes at Sellafield.