South Gloucestershire is poised to lose its bid to host two new nuclear reactors due to concerns over potential flooding at the Oldbury site. As a result, Wylfa, located on the north coast of Anglesey, has surged ahead as the preferred location for the UK government’s upcoming small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) project.
Wylfa is expected to receive government approval soon, a move that would bring substantial economic benefits to Anglesey and the wider North Wales region. This shift marks a significant development following a previous full-scale nuclear facility plan, which collapsed in 2021 after funding talks between developer Hitachi and the UK government fell through. Both Wylfa and Oldbury remain government-owned sites.
While SMR projects deliver fewer jobs and less capital investment compared to traditional nuclear plants, they also mitigate construction impacts on local communities and key sectors like tourism.
READ MORE: Man Banned from Harassing People in Cheltenham Town Centre
READ MORE: Large Emergency Service Training Exercise in Stroud Tonight
Oldbury Power Station, opened in 1967 and decommissioned starting in 2012, now spans an 18-hectare site. It is considered a potential home for the new, more cost-effective SMR technology, which is simpler to build than conventional nuclear power stations.
Ynys Môn MP Llinos Medi, a long-time advocate for nuclear power expansion, welcomed the anticipated announcement about Wylfa, calling it “a major step forward.” She emphasized the extensive efforts by local businesses, industry experts, and the council in demonstrating the site’s unique advantage as one of Europe’s prime locations for new nuclear generation.
Medi urged caution, however, advising the people of Ynys Môn to await concrete plans outlining job creation and benefits for local supply chains. She stressed the importance of balancing economic development with respect for the island’s environment, culture, and the Welsh language.
U.S. Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens praised the UK-U.S. partnership on SMRs, highlighting the strategic opportunity to establish a gigawatt-scale nuclear project at Wylfa. He noted, “Such a project would generate thousands of jobs, provide affordable baseload power, and reduce dependence on weather-dependent or geopolitically sensitive energy sources.” Importantly, private investors are ready to fund most of the project, minimizing public expenditure.
The anticipated shift from Oldbury to Wylfa represents a transformative opportunity for North Wales, promising energy security and economic growth while addressing environmental and community concerns.