Areas miss out on nuclear reactor factory

Kingmoor Park in Carlisle had been shortlisted as a possible site

A council said it is disappointed after a city missed out on an opportunity to host a factory for small modular nuclear reactors.

Kingmoor Park in Carlisle was one of four areas shortlisted for US firm's Holtec factory along with Tees Valley, but on Friday the company announced South Yorkshire had won the bid.

Cumberland Council said the news was disappointing, however it continued to see nuclear technology as an important part of the area's economic future.

A spokesman said: "We will watch how the development moves forward with interest and will build on the foundations of our partnership working to ensure that we are ready for any economic opportunities in the future."

Holtec considered 13 locations that responded to a call for interest for the factory to serve the UK, European and Middle East markets.

Four sites were shortlisted in the next stage, with the West Midlands also missing out on being selected.

Holtec said the factory was expected to bring £1.5bn to the local economy as well as hundreds of jobs.