Thanks for the replies.
Hadn't considered doing the SPA-SE-IR, as I originally had a SPA-ME-IR. I guess if I did it now it would be an initial issue which would incur more of a fee from the CAA?
In CAP804 it clearly states that if you have held an IR in the last 5 years, then no training is required, just a test to gain an IMC rating. For the full EASA IR it states that an ATO would need to come up with an individual training plan, obviously this ATO wants me to instruct IMC so it's in their interest, but is 0 flying hours accepted by the CAA for the issue of a SPA-SE-IR?