Land deal secures £10bn nuclear plant
THE multi-billion new nuclear project at Moorside, West Cumbria has taken a major step forward after a deal to secure land was completed.
Joint venture group Nugen said it had paid an undisclosed sum for the land from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) at Moorside near the existing Sellafield complex.
The £10bn project will see three nuclear reactors constructed on the site, following months of tests to ensure the area was suitable.
Moorside will deliver 7% of the UK’s future electricity needs and is Europe’s largest new nuclear build.
NuGen chief executive, Tom Samson, who signed the land deal with the NDA’s chief executive, John Clarke, said the deal was a “major milestone for NuGen’s Moorside project.”
He said: “This is a key moment in our Moorside Project journey. Our board has reached a decision of significance which confirms Moorside is suitable, against criteria at this stage of the development. NuGen, our vendors and our expert partners are all confident we can build three reactors on the site.”
“This is great news for the North-West, and particularly for West Cumbria, the UK’s
nuclear heartland. We are delighted to be taking forward Moorside, a massive development which will supply some 7% of the UK’s future electricity.”
Mr Clarke added: “The completion of this stage of the land sale brings a range of benefits both nationally and locally. It supports the initiative to have West Cumbria recognised as a centre of nuclear excellence, building on over six decades of nuclear expertise in the area, whilst delivering excellent value for money for the taxpayer and the national economy.”
Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom welcomed the joint NuGen-NDA announcement.
She said: “Backing the next generation of nuclear projects is a key part of our
long-term plan to power the economy with clean, secure energy and keep bills as low as possible for hardworking families and businesses.”
“We want the recovery to benefit all parts of our country, and Moorside will be a
major infrastructure project that creates jobs and economic security for thousands of
people and helps to deliver the Northern Powerhouse.”
