A NEW nuclear power station announced for Teesside will need the support of nuclear expertise in west Cumbria, industry leaders say.

Community Nuclear Power has announced plans to install four small modular reactors (SMRs) in North Tees after an agreement was reached with US giant Westinghouse.

It will be the UK's first privately operated nuclear power site and is expected to be operational by the 2030s.

Paul Foster, CEO of Community Nuclear Power, which is based in Cockermouth, said the company was still looking to bring a similar scheme to Cumbria.

He said: “The only place that is suitable in Cumbria is the Moorside site. That site is owned by the Government. They wanted to do a consultation on the use of the land. That consultation has begun now and we will wait and see the outcome of that. We would like to come back and do something here.

“Equally, if we have started on Teesside, we may be able to use different land in Cumbria, as well. We are talking to Cumberland Council about land and they are being very supportive. When we have got clarity on Moorside, we could come back, if everything is ok.

“Above and beyond that, we are doing these projects for the host community to get maximum value from it. We will be looking to maximise the benefits for the Teesside area but that’s not got an enormous nuclear pedigree.

“What we are going to be doing is a lot of introductions between our local businesses and the North East. Great collaborations and using nuclear skills to bolster, augment and partner with people on Teesside.”

Mr Foster, who is the former Chief Executive of Sellafield Ltd, said the project was not about nuclear but how nuclear can be the driver for economic and social growth.

He explained: “The idea is about creating jobs and opportunities for future generations. That’s why we are doing it. It’s not really about nuclear but the consequences of nuclear.

“I’m just happy we can begin this. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”

Dianne Richardson, chief executive of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, said: “West Cumbria is known for its expertise in nuclear internationally. This means that regardless of where the power plant is built, our expertise will be needed to support that.

“Because of the great work Sellafield has done around social value in the area, our businesses can take that nuclear capability and ability to collaborate to bring social value to both areas.

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“We still hope to have SMRs in west Cumbria at some point in the future. It’s just not first out of the gate.”

Trudy Harrison, Copeland MP, said: “All progress on new nuclear is so welcome. I’m working very closely with Rolls Royce SMR and colleagues across the Department for Energy Security and Great British Nuclear to also bring two SMRs to Moorside as an absolute priority.

“Tender invitations for the technologies will be the next step, in parallel with the down selection on sites and Moorside is very much in the running.”