"Nuclear power is an essential part of our future energy mix. Alongside a ten fold increase in renewables and investment in clean coal technology, it will help wean us off our dependency on oil and protect us against the politicisation of energy supplies," Business Secretary John Hutton said.

"So, we must do everything we can to remove any remaining barriers and open up the UK as the most attractive place in the world to invest in nuclear power," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The government proposes that the Strategic Siting Assessments should consider among other factors the risks posed by earth tremors, tsunamis, storm surges, coastal erosion and sea level rise over at least the next 100 years.

The final selection criteria should be ready by early 2009. The government will then invite proposals for sites to be included in a National Policy Statement on nuclear power to be published in 2010.

If planning approval is given, building work could begin in 2013-2014 with power generation starting in 2017-2020.

Nuclear supplies about 19 percent of Britain's electricity, with two plants in Scotland, one in Wales and six in England.

London's nuclear new build plans do not apply to Scotland because Scottish Ministers decide upon power generation projects larger than 50 megawatts and nuclear plants typically have the capacity to generate more than 1,000 MW. (Reporting by Daniel Fineren, editing by Anthony Barker)