The former nuclear site at Winfrith which is being decommissioned has a new owner.

Radioactive waste treatment and recycling specialist Tradebe Inutec is growing its UK operations by agreeing to the acquisition of buildings and land at the Winfrith Nuclear Licensed Site from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Until now, Tradebe Inutec has been operating as a tenant of site managers Magnox at Winfrith but the three parties – NDA, Magnox and Tradebe Inutec – signed and exchanged contracts, which will transfer ownership of the land.

Winfrith was used for research and development within the nuclear industry and is being decommissioned, demolished and the land returned to its natural state.

Tradebe Inutec SSHEQ Director, Denise Cardenas, said: “The acquisition of part of the Winfrith site represents another vital milestone in the process of becoming a new standalone Nuclear Licensed Site operator in the UK.

"Our dedication to achieving this status underlines our commitment to conform to the highest possible standards of security, safety and environmental sustainability. It also confirms our long-term commitment to developing our skills and capability as a centre of excellence for waste management in the UK and overseas nuclear sectors.”

The final step - taking possession of the buildings and land and granting the Nuclear Site licence - requires ministerial approval from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This is anticipated early in 2019.

Tradebe Inutec says the move on Winfrith secures its future as a key local stakeholder in the Winfrith community and as a vital part of the UK’s nuclear supply chain, providing specialist services for complex waste streams.