Nuclear research centre plans submitted

The park would be built next to the former Berkeley power station

Plans for nuclear and clean energy research and development facilities have been submitted for the site of a former technology park.

Berkeley Science and Technology Park could bring 1,000 jobs and offer 600,000 sq ft (55,742 sq m) of lab, office, manufacturing and education space if approved by Stroud District Council, according to the proposals.

Chiltern Vital Berkeley, the firm behind the scheme, previously announced it was talking with two investors, Quantum Leap Energy and Astral Systems.

The site is next to the former nuclear power station at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, which shut in 1989.

That was one of the first civil nuclear power stations in the world and was home to a Magnox reactor from 1962 to its closure.

Its adjoining nuclear research laboratory was fundamental for developing the UK's nuclear fuel programme.

Project manager, Gerry Hughes, said: "We've already got significant interest from some businesses (at) the forefront of innovation, which just demonstrates how important this project is."

Stroud District Council will now determine the planning application.

Gloucestershire County Council's economic growth board boss, Ian Mean, previously said the park could boost the region.

He said: "It's got huge potential. These will be very skilled jobs. Nuclear is in the DNA of this area, lots of people worked in nuclear, they still do."