New nuclear development plans announced for Cumbria
The Prime Minister has announced plans which could see nuclear power generation return to West Cumbria.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that land at Moorside, near Sellafield, will be freed up and leased to pave the way for a new nuclear power plant.
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington said: "I made a promise at the General Election to do everything possible to unlock land at Moorside for new nuclear.
"Some people thought it was a dead-end or a cynical promise that would be broken after the election. It hasn't been easy, but we've done it.
'Having the Prime Minister's backing is a real vote of confidence in West Cumbria and our people and I know we will rise to the challenge.
'Now we have the government behind us and an agreement on use of the land we can motor ahead to deliver Pioneer Park at pace. I can't promise we will get new nuclear, but unlocking this land gives us our best chance since the collapse of NuGen.
'What I can promise is I will do everything in my power to secure our nuclear future. We deserve nothing less."
Josh MacAlister MP is now set to host a public meeting to discuss plans for new nuclear in West Cumbria.
Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, said: 'A clean energy development at Moorside is great news for Cumberland and West Cumbria in particular, as it would help grow and diversify our future economy.
'The main driver for me is generating enough power at Moorside, by whatever means, to attract industry and technology to Cumberland that will sustain our economy and create jobs for west Cumbrians long after the inevitable downturn in decommissioning at Sellafield.
'While I am open to all clean energy developments that benefit our community, new nuclear build, in the form of Small Modular Reactors, would unquestionably provide us with the most power capacity for the size of land being made available and give us our best chance of achieving our ultimate goal of attracting industry, technology and jobs into our community.
'The Council is fully committed to working with the NDA to understand how we can deliver maximum value and benefit from the land at Moorside for the local community.'
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