RADIOACTIVE waste from other nuclear power stations has moved a step closer to being stored at Bradwell.

Magnox, the company running Bradwell power station, asked Essex County Council whether it needed to draw up a full environmental impact assessment on plans to import nuclear waste from other power stations.

Now the council has decided the application is not “significant” enough to require a formal assessment.

The decision said: “The formal decision of this Authority is that the effects of the development would not be so significant as to require formal Environmental Impact Assessment.”

Magnox’s submission to County Hall revealed “intermediate level waste” would be stored, encased in cement, inside stainless steel drums or concrete boxes.

It would be imported from Dungeness A and Sizewell A until around 2040, when a national geological disposal facility is due to be created.

Magnox defended the proposals, saying it would save around £200million of taxpayers’ money and avoid the need to build £30million of additional storage space.