Overview
- Great British Energy‑Nuclear will lead the programme using Rolls‑Royce SMR designs, subject to final contracts.
- The initial build covers three reactors totaling about 1.4GW, with the site able to host up to eight units.
- Officials say activity on the site will start in 2026, with first power targeted for the mid‑2030s after supporting up to 3,000 construction jobs and hundreds of long‑term roles.
- Public funding of roughly £2.5bn is earmarked for design development and planning and environmental consents, with private investment still required for construction.
- The US ambassador publicly criticized the move in favor of larger reactors, as ministers also tasked GBE‑N with identifying a site for a future gigawatt‑scale plant by autumn 2026.