NuGen buys land for Moorside nuclear plant

Deal follows completion of site suitability studies

NuGen, the UK nuclear new-build developer, has signed a contract to buy the land at its Moorside site from Britain's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, moving the development of the proposed £15 billion nuclear project in northwest England a step closer.

The agreement follows successful completion of site suitability studies at Moorside by NuGen, the joint venture between Japan's Toshiba and France's ENGIE, which validate the site located north and west of Sellafield as being suitable for construction of three reactors.

Site characterisation studies will continue at Moorside in the autumn and will feed in to detailed planning and site layout work.

NuGen chief executive, Tom Samson, 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."

John Clarke, the NDA’s chief executive, 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.”

Gill Wood, national secretary of Prospect – the largest union in the UK nuclear industry, said: “Not only does this meet the national aim of sustainable, reliable and affordable energy for UK consumers, but it reinforces West Cumbria’s position as a centre of nuclear excellence, with the promise of an additional 6,000 jobs during the construction stage and more than 1,000 highly-skilled operational jobs for the region during the lifetime of the new plant.”

Moorside, which would be Europe's largest new nuclear build, would deliver 7% of the UK’s future electricity needs.