Richmond listed as potential location for nuclear reactor factory
This could bring a value of £100-200 million to the region
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.”