Nuclear plan for decommissioned coal power station

The cooling towers at Cottam Power Station were demolished in August

Nuclear power could be generated on the site of a former coal power station in Nottinghamshire.

Cottam Power Station was decommissioned in 2019, and in August its eight 114m (375ft) cooling towers were demolished.

Three businesses - American energy firm Holtec International, EDF UK, and real estate manager Tritax - have now signed an agreement to set up a small modular reactor (SMR) to power "advanced" data centres at the 900-acre site.

Holtec said the project could create "thousands of high-skilled manufacturing and construction jobs", as well as "long-term roles".

The SMR at Cottam would be the second of its kind, following the creation of a plant at Palisades in Michigan, in the US.

Feasibility studies and early-stage investment discussions are now under way, with the partnership hoping to be operational in the 2030s.

'Powering British homes'

Holtec added it hoped the trans-Atlantic collaboration would make the site "a hub for clean energy and new investment opportunities".

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said SMRs "will play a key role in our future clean energy mix", with the project "at the old coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire demonstrating the transition to clean power in action".

He added: "By working with the US, we will reap the benefits of this golden age of nuclear, powering British homes with clean, homegrown energy, delivering well-paid skilled jobs, and getting energy bills down for good."

Simone Rossi, chief executive of EDF in the UK, said the project could "transform both the Cottam site and the wider region".

Cottam has had a power plant since the 1960s

East Midlands mayor Claire Ward said the site would form part of the Trent Valley Supercluster, submitted as an AI Growth Zone to the UK government.

She said: "By bringing together advanced nuclear technology with the fast-growing digital economy, it will create thousands of high-quality jobs in construction, manufacturing, and operations.

"It builds on our region's proud energy heritage and, as part of the Trent Valley Supercluster, ensures sites like Cottam remain at the forefront of clean energy and innovation for decades to come."

The coal-fired complex at Cottam first opened in 1968, and was capable of generating enough electricity for 3.7 million homes.

It was originally only designed to be operational for 30 years, but its life was extended to 2019 before closing for good.