'Huge potential' for county to become nuclear hub

Simon Bowen said he hoped the region "could be the nuclear hub of the UK"

A region has "huge potential" to once again become a nuclear hub, according to the chairman of Great British Nuclear (GBN).

Land in Gloucestershire next to two decommissioned nuclear power stations, in Oldbury and Berkeley Green, is set to be redeveloped for a new kind of nuclear technology.

Simon Bowen, of GBN, said the region's "rich nuclear history" was "enormously exciting", and the new projects would provide "very high quality jobs" for the area.

"I have made no secret of the fact that I think Oldbury is an absolute prime site for SMRs [small modular reactors]," he added.

He continued: "I think there is a massive opportunity now with us purchasing Oldbury, with the separate Berkeley project nearby, and all the work that Western Gateway has done with the Severn Edge project."

Mr Bowen explained Oldbury was a site that might be able to house up to six SMRs.

The nuclear power station at Berkeley, seen here in 1963, was stripped of its equipment when it closed in 1989

Mr Bowen said: "A skills hub around the south west is being launched and the UTC [University Technical College] at Berkeley is a great model for apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships."

Construction for the Oldbury plant is due to begin around 2029.

Mr Bowen said investment in the region was set to be worth "tens of billions" and would create thousands of jobs.

"You are putting infrastructure in place which will last for 60-80 years and possibly longer.

"People smart at the costs of nuclear but the true cost of nuclear is competitive when you compare it with things like offshore wind and a lot of the new technologies," he said.