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Map of UK Nuclear Sites

Nuclear power is a significant component of the United Kingdom’s energy mix, providing a stable and low-carbon source of electricity. The UK has a long history with nuclear energy, and its fleet of reactors supplies around 15-20% of the country’s electricity. The government has been committed to expanding nuclear capacity to meet future energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New projects, such as Hinkley Point C and the proposed Sizewell C, are pivotal to this strategy. However, challenges include high costs, long construction times, and public concern over safety and waste management. Despite these issues, nuclear power remains crucial for the UK’s sustainable energy future. Find out where the country’s nuclear sites are located, and what goes on at each of them, on our interactive map of UK nuclear sites.

Quick Guide to using the Map of UK Nuclear Sites

MAP – Click and drag to move the map around. Hold Ctrl and use the mouse wheel to zoom in or out. Alternatively use the zoom buttons in the top right corner.

POINTS – Points are coloured based on the current status a nuclear site is in.

COUNTER – The counter in the top left displays the number of nuclear sites under each status. Clicking on a specific phase counter lets you see only sites that fall within that category.

POPUPS – Hovering over a specific point on the map will show you a popup containing additional information about the site.

Below is the full data set used to create the UK Nuclear Sites Map. You can use it to look up specific nuclear sites.

NamePurposeLatitudeLongitudeStatusConstruction StartStart of OperationsEnd of OperationsAdditional Info
AldermastonDefence51.366709-1.146055Operational19411950/Research facility responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the UK's nuclear weapons
AmershamMedical51.666877-0.578186DecommissioningUnknown19462019Manufacturer of radiopharmaceutical products
AtlasResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1952UnknownCrit assembly at Aldermaston
Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) / Harwell LaboratoryResearch Site51.581-1.305DecommissioningUnknown1946/Main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from 1946 to the 1990s
BarrowDefence54.1104-3.2374OperationalUnknown1959/Dockyard
BerkeleyPower Station51.6925-2.4936Decommissioning1956196219892x Magnox
BERKELEY Zero EnergyResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1966UnknownGraphite at Berkeley
BradwellPower Station51.7422590.898296Decommissioning1957196220022x Magnox
British Experimental Pile Operation (BEPO)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownUnder decommissioningUnknown19621968Graphite, air pile at Harwell
BurghfieldDefence51.407491-1.023788OperationalUnknown1950s/Warhead assembly, maintenance while in service, and decommissioning when out of service
Calder HallPower Station54.419746-3.492445Decommissioning1953195620034x Magnox
CapenhurstFuel Production53.263554-2.952064OperationalUnknown1952/Uranium Enrichment
ChapelcrossPower Station55.0157-3.2261Decommissioning1955195920044x Magnox
CONSORT Reactor Imperial CollegeResearch Reactor51.410652-0.641076DecommissionedUnknown19652012Pool
Deuterium Moderated Pile, Low Energy (DIMPLE)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1962UnknownPool at Winfrith
Deuterium Oxide D2O (DIDO)Research Reactor51.568794-1.325558Under decommissioningUnknown19561990Heavy water
DIDO and PLUTO's Handmaiden for Nuclear Experiments (DAPHNE)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1962UnknownHeavy water at Harwell
DounreayResearch Site58.58009-3.74368DecommissioningUnknown19551994Development site for civil fast breeder reactors, and the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE), a military submarine reactor testing facility
Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR)Research Reactor58.580345-3.745628Under decommissioningUnknown19591977Fast breeder reactor
Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR)Research Reactor58.58325-3.739065DecommissionedUnknown19581969Heavy water
Dounreay Submarine Prototype 1 (DSMP1)Research Reactor58.57646-3.75694DecommissionedUnknown19631987Testing of Submarine PWR cores
DragonResearch Reactor50.684-2.2694Under decommissioning196019641976He cooled
DriggWaste Management54.379444-3.456944OperationalUnknown1959/Low Level Waste Repository
Dungeness APower Station50.9131760.964227DecommissioningUnknown196520062x Magnox
Dungeness BPower Station50.9138360.959962Defuelling1965198320212x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
ERICResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1952UnknownCrit fast at Aldermaston
First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP)Waste Management54.42287-3.497455Decommissioning1950sUnknownUnknownReception and storage of irradiated fuel from Magnox reactors. Removal of fuel cladding prior to fuel being processed.
First Generation ReprocessingWaste Management54.421944-3.501111DecommissioningEarly 1950sUnknown1970sFirst stage of reprocessing fuel from the Windscale Pile Reactors
Floc Storage TanksWaste Management54.419724-3.503333DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknownLiquid effluents produced as a result of reprocessing operations were historically held in these large concrete tanks
Fuel Handling PlantWaste Management54.41616-3.49561OperationalUnknownUnknown/Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) fuel is dismantled
Graphite Low Energy Experimental Pile (GLEEP)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown19471990Graphite at Harwell
HartlepoolPower Station54.635-1.180833Operational19681983/2x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
HERALDResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1960UnknownPool at Aldermaston
Heysham 1Power Station54.029917-2.91734Operational19701983/2x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
Heysham 2Power Station54.027696-2.915194Operational19801988/2x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
High Level Waste TanksWaste Management54.42065-3.49718UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
Hinkley Point APower Station51.2087-3.1337Decommissioning1957196520002x Magnox
Hinkley Point BPower Station51.209-3.1275Defuelling1967197620222x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
Hinkley Point CPower Station51.2059-3.1429Under Construction2017//2x EPR
HMNB ClydeDefence56.066111-4.8175OperationalUnknown1942/Naval Base
HMNB DevonportDefence50.383-4.183OperationalUnknown1970s/Naval Base
Homogenous Aqueous Zero Energy Level (HAZEL)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1957UnknownHomog (L) at Harwell
HORACEResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1958UnknownCrit assembly at Aldermaston
Hot Enriched Carbon-moderated Thermal Oscillator Reactor (HECTOR)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1963UnknownZero power htd at Winfrith
Hot Experimental Reactor of O(Zero) Power (HERO)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1962UnknownGraphite AGR at Seascale
Hunterston APower Station55.720278-4.896667Decommissioning1957196419902x Magnox
Hunterston BPower Station55.7221-4.8901Defuelling1967197620222x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) TRIGA ReactorResearch Reactor54.59107-1.2607DecommissionedUnknown19711988TRIGA Mark I
JASONResearch Reactor51.4825-0.0062DecommissionedUnknown19591999Argonaut
Joint European Torus (JET)Research Reactor51.659167-1.226389DecommissioningUnknown19832023Nuclear Fusion Research Reactor
JUNOResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1964UnknownCrit assembly at Winfrith
LIDOResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown19561974Pool at Harwell
LillyhallWaste Management54.613205-3.511478OperationalUnknown2009/Waste Recycling
Low Active Effluent PlantsWaste Management54.419724-3.500556OperationalUnknownUnknown/Reduction of waste volumes arising as part of current activities as well as historic operations
Magnox Encapsulation PlantWaste Management54.41507-3.4938UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownProcessing of solid, intermediate-level radioactive waste and packaging it into a convenient form which provides for efficient and simple handling, transport and storage.
Magnox ReprocessingWaste Management54.4231-3.50248DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknownReprocessing spent nuclear fuel from the Magnox reactors
Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS)Waste Management54.422155-3.497035Operational1960sUnknown/Built at Sellafield to accommodate the swarf waste produced by the Magnox fuel decanning operations
Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST)Research Reactor51.659167-1.230556DecommissionedUnknown19992013Nuclear Fusion Research Reactor
MERLINResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1959UnknownPool at Aldermaston
MOX Demonstration UtilityFuel Production54.42556-3.49988UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
NeptuneResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownOperationalUnknown1963/Pool at Raynesway, Derby
Neutron Source Thermal Reactor (NESTOR)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1961UnknownArgonaut at Harwell
Old Reprocessing PlantWaste Management54.42205-3.50359DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknown
OldburyPower Station51.6489-2.5708Decommissioning1967196820122x Magnox
Open fuel storage pondWaste Management54.42378-3.49985DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknown
PantherResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1961UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
PhoenixResearch ReactorDounreayDounreayDecommissionedDounreay1960DounreayCrit assembly at Dounreay
PILE 1Research Reactor54.424564-3.500121DecommissioningUnknown19501957Air-cooled graphite-moderated nuclear reactor
PILE 2Research Reactor54.423503-3.496526DecommissioningUnknown19511957Air-cooled graphite-moderated nuclear reactor
Pile Fuel Cladding SiloWaste Management54.422455-3.495857Decommissioning19501952UnknownReception and safe storage of radioactive fuel cladding from the military project at Windscale
Pile Fuel Storage PondWaste Management54.42411-3.49837Decommissioning1940sUnknownUnknownConstructed to receive, cool and decant fuel from the Windscale Piles
PLUTOResearch Reactor51.569708-1.32809DecommissioningUnknown19571990Heavy water
Plutonium StoresWaste Management54.4237-3.504144UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR)Research Reactor58.577605-3.752837UnknownUnknown19751994Pool-type fast breeder reactor, cooled by 1,500 tonnes of liquid sodium and fuelled with MOX
PumaResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1960UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
QMC Subcritical AssemblyResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1959UnknownSubcrit at Stratford Marsh, London
QMC UTR-BResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown19681982Argonaut at Stratford Marsh, London
RayneswayDefence52.909017-1.432387OperationalUnknown1954/Manufacturing of highly enriched uranium fuel modules and reactor cores for future nuclear powered submarines for the Royal Navy
RNAD CoulportDefence56.05-4.88OperationalUnknown1968/Warhead Depot
RosythDefence56.020556-3.453333DecommissioningUnknown1984/Dockyard
SellafieldMulti-Functional Nuclear Site54.421-3.5001DecommissioningUnknown1947VariousNuclear waste processing and storage, and nuclear decommissioning. Former activities included nuclear power generation and nuclear fuel reprocessing.
Sellafield Mixed Oxide-MOX Plant (SMP)Fuel Production54.41699-3.50193DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknownProduction of Mixed oxide, or MOX fuel; a blend of plutonium and natural uranium or depleted uranium
Separation Area LagoonWaste Management54.421412-3.498732DecommissioningUnknownUnknownUnknownCollection and discharge facility for surface water drainage and pumped groundwater from the Separation Area
Shore Test Facility (STF)Research Reactor58.57566-3.75873DecommissioningUnknown19872015Testing of Submarine PWR cores
SiriusResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1961UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP)Waste Management54.41812-3.49482UnknownUnknown1985Unknown
SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP)Waste Management54.419114-3.494322Under Construction2021//
Sizewell APower Station52.2123411.619517Decommissioning1961196620062x Magnox
Sizewell BPower Station52.2152931.619763Operational19881995/1x Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR)
Sizewell CPower Station52.2216541.6194309Proposed New Build///2x EPR
Sludge Packaging Plant (SPP1) Buffer StoreWaste Management54.423373-3.499539OperationalUnknownUnknown/Receives legacy sludge from the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond and stores it safely, ready for future processing into a product suitable for long term storage or disposal
SpringfieldsFuel Production53.7775-2.808056OperationalUnknown1946/Nuclear fuel production
TessieResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1959UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP)Waste Management54.416111-3.500556Decommissioning197419942018Nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
THORP PondsWaste Management54.414165-3.502222UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
ToadResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1960UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
TornessPower Station55.96799-2.40908Operational19801988/2x Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR)
TrawsfynyddPower Station52.92497-3.949474Decommissioning1959196519912x Magnox
Universities Research ReactorResearch Reactor53.427222-2.531389DecommissionedUnknown19641991Argonaut
UTR-300Research Reactor55.753577-4.1621DecommissionedUnknown19631995Argonaut
VERA Nuclear AssemblyResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1961UnknownCrit fast at Aldermaston
VIPERResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownPermanent shutdownUnknown1967UnknownFast burst at Aldermaston
VULCAN NRTEDefence58.576231-3.757767DecommissioningUnknown19652015Research
Waste Treatment PlantWaste Management54.427004-3.500027UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
Waste Vitrification Plant (WVP)Waste Management54.418888-3.498055UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownSeals high-level radioactive waste in glass
WaterfallResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1954UnknownCrit fast at Aldermaston
Wet Inlet Facility (WIF)Waste Management54.427647-3.501738UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownLong-term storage of spent fuel rods from nuclear submarines
Windscale AGR (WAGR)Research Reactor54.425954-3.502933DecommissionedUnknown19621982Graphite AGR
Winfrith Atomic Energy EstablishmentResearch Site50.684047-2.26935Decommissioning195719592021Testing of new nuclear reactor designs
WylfaPower Station53.417-4.483Decommissioning1963197120152x Magnox
Z-BerthDefence57.827314-5.585023OperationalUnknown1963/Designated for occasional operational or recreational visits by nuclear-powered warships
ZEBRAResearch ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1962UnknownCrit fast at Winfrith
Zero Energy Fast Fission Reactor (ZEPHYR)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1954UnknownCrit fast at Harwell
Zero Energy High Temperature Reactor I (ZENITH I)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1959UnknownGraphite CO2 at Winfrith
Zero Energy High Temperature Reactor II (ZENITH II)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1972UnknownGraphite at Winfrith
Zero Energy Thermal Reactor (ZETR)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1957UnknownCrit assembly at Dounreay
Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly (ZETA)Research Reactor51.5799-1.3082DecommissionedUnknown19571961Nuclear Fusion Research Reactor
Zero Energy Uranium System (ZEUS)Research ReactorUnknownUnknownDecommissionedUnknown1955UnknownCrit fast at Harwell

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