PRODUCTION of Rolls Royce’s innovative “small modular reactors” could take place in Cumberland.
The news has been welcomed as a “changer” for the area, which could create 200 jobs with £ 200 million in domestic investment.
Kingmoor Park, in Carlisle, has reached the list of places that could host one of Rolls Royce’s three factories, developing the “heavy boats” for its SMR power plant.
Rolls Royce SMR leads a consortium of companies with the ambition to build a fleet of 16 mini-nuclear power plants in the UK, producing clean energy and reducing carbon emissions.
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The business giant’s unique approach is to build 90 percent of the mini reactors in factory condition before transporting the modular parts to the site where they will look like a nuclear power plant.
And the Kingmoor Park industrial estate in Carlisle is one of seven preselected locations to house an SMR factory.
Councilors have described the potential economic boost as a “game changer” for Cumberland.
Carlisle City Council leader Cllr John Mallinson said: “This is great news for Kingmoor Park and the regional economy and Carlisle in general.
“The project will involve an investment of £ 200 million and 200 jobs in the winning site; we hope Carlisle is the place chosen for the investment. The city supports new business and wants to continue building our economy.”
Cllr Marilyn Bowman, head of the economy, business and housing portfolio, added: “This is another potential boost to Carlisle’s economy. If the site were to be based in the city, it would provide an investment of several million pounds in the city and would generate hundreds of jobs.
“It’s great news for Carlisle and the Borderlands region.”
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Those with a special interest in the nuclear industry are campaigning to see Sellafield’s neighboring sites in Copeland host clean energy technology when it goes online.
Rolls Royce has a memorandum of understanding with industry figures to bring the first SMR of its kind to a location near Sellafield, either Moorside or Fellside.
The news that Carlisle could house the factory to build its components has been hailed as positive news.
Belah City Council and Kingmoor City Councilor Gareth Ellis said: “SMR technology is one of the most important developments in power generation for decades.
“For Carlisle, participating in these cutting – edge technologies would be transformative.
“We have the transport links, the workforce and our full support. 50 percent of our energy comes from natural gas, any aspiration to replace this basic charge can only come from new nuclear development.
“It’s a competitive process, but we’ll certainly push for Carlisle to be the destination.”
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