Public support for new nuclear power stations has dipped below 50 per cent in the wake of radiation leaks in Japan, according to a poll that comes days before the Government is due to publish a plan to fund a new generation of reactors.
The proportion of people who say they support building new reactors to replace old ones as they are phased out has fallen to 47 per cent, down from 52 per cent last year. Support for new reactors had been consistently above 50 per cent in annual polls conducted since 2008.
The proportion opposing new plants rose from 24 per cent last year to 28 per cent and the number undecided fell from 19 to 18 per cent.
The poll of 4,000 adults by YouGov was commissioned by EDF Energy, which operates eight nuclear power stations in Britain and plans to build two new ones.
The poll, conducted between June 24 and 27, shows those aged 25-39 are most doubtful of the benefits of new reactors, with only 43 per cent supporting them. By contrast, those aged 60 and over, who have lived through several nuclear safety scares, are most supportive, with 51 per cent in favour of new plants.
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Level of education appears to be strong factor in willingness to accept the need for new reactors, with 50 per cent of those in social grades ABC1 (those in non-manual occupations) supporting them as opposed to 42 per cent of those in grades C2, D and E.
Conservative voters are the most likely to support new reactors, with 58 per cent in favour compared with 44 per cent of Labour voters and 47 per cent of Lib Dem voters.
Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of EDF Energy said: “The poll provides valuable insight at the time decisions have to be taken on the investment framework for all forms of low carbon energy, including on the carbon price floor, National Policy Statements and electricity market reform.
“We are committed to providing what Britain needs and what the majority of people want to see happen, and to doing so safely and economically.”