When assessing the economic and social benefits of a new radiation-producing process, the Secretary of State was not obliged to include in the costs, the capital already invested in the plant. BNFL proposed to bring on-line a mixed oxide fuel (MOX) plant. The balances was to be weighed at the time of the decision, at which point costs already incurred were no longer applicable. There is a standard economic principle of ignoring sunk costs which would never be recovered.
Judges:
Lord Justice Simon Brown, Lord Justice Waller, And, Lord Justice Dyson
Citations:
Times 25-Feb-2002, [2001] EWCA Civ 1847, [2002] 1 CMLR 21, [2001] NPC 181, [2002] Env LR 24, [2001] 50 EGCS 91
Links:
Statutes:
Council Directive 96/29/Euratom Art 6.1
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Environment, European, Utilities
Updated: 29 June 2022; Ref: scu.166981