Hunterston B nuclear power station has entered a new stage of its decommissioning programme by becoming the first Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) site to move into UK Government ownership.

Just after midnight on Wednesday 01 April 2026, the North Ayrshire plant formally transferred from EDF to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

The site will now be run by the NDA's subsidiary, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), which is already responsible for decommissioning the neighbouring Hunterston A site. The transfer follows a June 2021 agreement under which EDF committed to defuel all seven AGR stations in the UK before handing them to the NDA.

EDF's Decommissioning Director, Paul Morton, said: "I am delighted we have been able to work with NRS and the NDA to deliver this transfer on schedule.

"Hunterston B has been an integral part of the EDF family. It is a fantastic site and while we will miss the station and its people, we know they are entering an exciting new chapter in their story, and we are looking forward to seeing them successfully delivering decommissioning."

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Over more than five decades, Hunterston B has contributed in excess of £13.3bn to the UK economy and provided high-quality, skilled employment in North Ayrshire. A total of 246 employees are transferring from EDF to NRS to continue the decommissioning work.

During its operating life, the station generated enough low-carbon electricity to power every home in Scotland for more than 30 years, and it was the first AGR site to complete defueling. That process was delivered on time and within budget using the Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF), a ring-fenced £20.7 billion fund established in 1996 to pay for decommissioning the current nuclear fleet.

NLF Chief Executive, Melissa Hope, said: @This is a significant achievement for the team at Hunterston B as well as the many individuals at EDF, NRS and the rest of the NDA group whose collaboration and commitment have made this first-of-a-kind transfer happen.

"It marks the start of the next stage of the important work of decommissioning.

"NLF is proud of its role in supporting EDF’s successful defueling following the end of generation at Hunterston B. The NLF funding model provides certainty that funds are now available to support safe and secure site remediation. We look forward to working with the station, NRS, the NDA and HM Government going forward to ensure that NLF funds are used to support planning for and innovation in the decommissioning programme, with the aim of this important national task being delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.”"

Attention now turns to Hinkley Point B in Somerset, which is expected to be the next AGR station to transfer to the NDA in autumn 2026.