Richmond listed as potential location for nuclear reactor factory

This could bring a value of £100-200 million to the region

Richmond, North Yorkshire
Author: Ramla JeylaniPublished 4th Jul 2022

Rolls-Royce SMR have listed Richmond, North Yorkshire as a potential location for their first nuclear reactor factory.

The Factory is expected to be around 23,000 SqM in size – equivalent to 3 football pitches.

If Richmond is selected, this could bring a value of £100-200 million to the region as well as creating many high-skilled jobs.

Richmond was shortlisted from over 100 submissions from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and development agencies.

The new factory will significantly reduce timescales and project risk for Rolls-Royce SMR.

Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland, North Yorkshire, Deeside, Lincolnshire and Carlisle which, if these SMRs go ahead, could be at the forefront of manufacturing components for this British-made tech."

“Backed by £210m, SMRs have the potential to provide quicker and cheaper low-carbon nuclear power, and today’s announcement underlines the potential for new jobs around the country created by embracing this new technology.”

Shortlisted sites

North East – IAMP Sunderland

Forrest Park Newton Aycliffe

North Yorkshire – Catterick 53, Richmond

Wales – Gateway, Deeside

Yorkshire - Ferrybridge

Greater Lincolnshire - Grimsby & Pioneer Park, Stallingborough

Cumbria – Kingmoor Park, Carlisle

The factory will support the UK Government’s aspirations for levelling-up

Rolls-Royce SMR Chief Executive, Tom Samson, said: “I would like to thank everyone who sent in a submission suggesting locations in their region for the first Rolls-Royce SMR factory. The response was fantastic and shows the ambition and appetite of the UK to build and operate a fleet of SMRs which will provide affordable, low-carbon electricity for generations to come."

“The final location will come from the shortlist and will result in significant investment, long-term high-skilled jobs and will support the UK Government’s aspirations for levelling-up. Today’s announcement is another example of the pace of our project and why Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s domestic nuclear energy champion.”

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