COPELAND Council has revealed that it is “broadly supportive” of plans for a new nuclear power station – but has raised a wide range of concerns.

The council says while it “recognises the considerable and potential economic benefits” of plans for a three-reactor plant at Moorside, next to Sellafield, it is calling on developers NuGen to address its long list of concerns ahead of a planning application.

There is an “absence of detail” in terms of legacy and potential benefits of the project and its associated developments, says Copeland in its formal response to the current public consultation.

“The council is clear that communities across the borough want to see permanent and positive legacy benefits, including appropriate investment and community facilities to mitigate any negative impacts of the project.”

The council is critical of plans to house workers in newly-built villages in Mirehouse, Corkickle and Egremont, instead preferring to have them “integrated into existing communities, spreading the economic benefits and reducing potential issues of social cohesion”.

Additionally, the worker villages should not have leisure facilities with people encouraged instead to use existing facilities locally.

On transport, the council says there is a “lack of clear, detailed and evidenced strategy” by NuGen given the constraints on the existing highways and the rail infrastructure.

“It is not clear how local workers will access the site,” says Copeland, “and no consideration is given to the impact on the A5086, even though this will be a key route.”

In terms of jobs, Copeland says it “expects to see a local labour agreement and support for upskilling”, and the local supply chain given priority.

Copeland’s response comes in the same week that Cumbria County Council revealed it is also “broadly supportive” of the plans, while raising a number of similar concerns.

The second round of NuGen’s public consultation ends on Saturday. The firm hopes to get the final go ahead in 2018. Construction is due to start in 2020 and all three reactors on stream by 2026.