A NUCLEAR risk expert admitted being surprised by the “old fashioned” design of the proposed nuclear reactor at Bradwell.

Speaking to the Asian Times, Jerzy Grynblat compared the design of the Hualong One reactor, which Bradwell will be based on, to a Swedish reactor from the 1980s.

He said: “It surprised me a little. It is really quite old fashioned. I am not saying that makes it unsafe, certainly not, but what it does is make use of well-known technology.

“This makes approval more straightforward, and the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process that is now starting in the UK is crucial.”

The four-year GDA process will end, the Chinese hope, with the reactor’s approval for use in Britain and for use in Bradwell.

Anthony Froggatt, senior research fellow at think-tank Chatham House and co-author of The World Nuclear Industry Status Reports, added: “Bradwell is a different story. It is a new reactor, it is Chinese and there are security issues.

“Will the Chinese ever be able to open up the design specifications?”

The Chinese had refused to offer design specifications to for its plant in Fangchenggang, on which Bradwell is to be based, to British authorities.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) welcomed the “high level of expertise and commitment” shown by the Chinese insisting that it was commonplace for foreign nuclear companies not to share sensitive documents around national security during the UK nuclear approval process and added that it was the arrangements for Bradwell that were relevant.

BANNG (Bradwell Against New Nuclear Group) were critical of the secrecy.

A spokesman said: “If there is nothing to hide, why is there so little to say? Every request by BANNG for basic information or for a public meeting has been met with a wall of silence.”