Leaders call for new nuclear reactor in town

Hartlepool's current nuclear power station is set to close in 2026

Politicians and business leaders have written to the government calling for a new nuclear reactor to be built in Teesside.

The letter, signed by 11 people, has been sent to Minister for Nuclear and Renewables Andrew Bowie.

It calls on the government to make Hartlepool a "priority site" for the new reactor.

Hartlepool currently produces nuclear energy at the two-reactor EDF power station but this is set to close in 2026.

The letter has been written in response to the launch of the government's Nuclear Roadmap, which aims to boost the amount of energy created by nuclear power.

The government has also said it is committed to developing alternative routes to market for firms wishing to develop nuclear technology.

'An obvious choice'

The letter called on the government to “recognise the strong alignment between advanced modular reactor (AMR) technology and the Teesside area” and to take steps to bring “a project of this nature” to Hartlepool.

It added: "With the closure of the current plant planned for 2026, and with the land that is available, we feel the knowledge, experience and nuclear safety culture already in place at Hartlepool makes it an obvious choice in particular for High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGR)."

Nuclear reactor fuel design company X-energy has already proposed developing a multi-billion pound plant using its small modular reactors next to Hartlepool’s existing nuclear power station.

Mr Bowie previously said the future of nuclear in Hartlepool was "bright".

The letter has been signed by politicians as well as Tees Valley Combined Authority chief executive Julie Gilhespie and Denise McGuckin, managing director of Hartlepool Borough Council.

It has also been backed by energy network NOF, the north-east England branch of the Nuclear Institute, as well as Darren Hankey, principal at Hartlepool College of Further Education.