THE UK’s spending watchdog has launched its periodic review into the costs and risks of decommissioning at Cumbria’s nuclear site, Sellafield.

The National Audit Office, which scrutinises the use of public spending, will be reviewing the UK’s most ‘complex and challenging nuclear site’ in terms of its progress on risk reduction.

The site is home to around 85 per cent of all the UK’s nuclear waste, with much of it stored in aging facilities.

The National Audit Office said: “Cleaning up the site is a long-term endeavour, likely to last well into the next century.

"It is expected to cost £84 billion (in discounted prices), though this cost estimate is highly uncertain.

“The National Audit Office has reported regularly on the challenges the NDA faces at Sellafield, most recently in 2018. We concluded then that ‘work to reduce risk and high hazard at Sellafield has taken an encouraging turn for the better.’

“However, more work was required to measure, evaluate and communicate progress more effectively.”

The report will assess whether Sellafield Ltd, managed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), are managing short and long-term risks,  maintaining the positive trend spotted in the 2018 report and are deploying resources effectively.

The review follows a few months after a year-long Guardian investigation alleged 'cyber hacking, radioactive contamination and toxic workplace culture at Sellafield'.

A spokesperson from Sellafield Ltd, said: “The National Audit Office have announced they will be conducting a routine review of high hazard and risk reduction at Sellafield which will build on previous reports published in 2015 and 2018.

“As taxpayer-funded organisations we have a responsibility to deliver for the public, including on value for money.

“As such we welcome this continued scrutiny and look forward to working with the NAO.

“We continually look to identify improvements to the way we work, to enable us in delivering our mission safely, securely and sustainably.”

The review follows a few months after a year-long Guardian investigation alleged 'cyber hacking, radioactive contamination and toxic workplace culture at Sellafield'.

These claims were denied by the nuclear site.

The report is expected to be released in Autumn 2024.