UK Greenlights First Small Nuclear Plant in North Wales

Published: 13 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A groundbreaking nuclear power station is set to be constructed on Anglesey, promising up to 3,000 jobs and billions of pounds in investment. The Wylfa site on the island’s northern coast will host the UK’s first three small modular reactors (SMRs), with potential space for up to eight. Construction is expected to begin next year, aiming to supply electricity by the mid-2030s.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the project marks a turning point for the UK, restoring the country’s position as a global nuclear leader after years of neglect. First Minister Eluned Morgan welcomed the announcement, highlighting the economic and social benefits for Ynys Môn and the wider region.

The new plant, backed by £2.5bn from the UK government, could generate enough electricity for around three million homes. Publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear will oversee the project. Simon Bowen, chair of the company, described the reactors as a historic step toward UK energy independence and long-term local investment.

The company is also exploring potential sites for another large-scale nuclear plant similar to Hinkley Point and Sizewell, capable of powering six million homes. Recommendations are expected by autumn 2026, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband requesting consideration of locations across the UK, including Scotland.

The decision to opt for SMRs rather than a single large reactor drew criticism from US Ambassador Warren Stephens, who had advocated for a gigawatt-scale plant at Wylfa with US firm Westinghouse. Industry experts, however, have praised the modular design, likening it to assembling an “Ikea-style” structure, and noting that it fits the existing grid and mirrors the output of the decommissioned Wylfa plant.

Challenges remain, including securing regulatory approval, constructing manufacturing facilities for the reactors, and training the workforce. Opponents of the project argue that long-term nuclear waste storage remains unresolved and that renewable energy investments would better serve Anglesey. Dylan Morgan from People Against Wylfa-B called the SMRs an “unnecessarily big development of unproven technology.”

Wylfa was chosen over Oldbury in Gloucestershire, with the SMRs designed by British firm Rolls-Royce. Contracts are expected to be finalised later this year. The previous Wylfa nuclear plant was decommissioned in 2015, and prior plans for a large replacement failed in 2021 due to escalating costs and funding disagreements with Hitachi.

Sasha Wynn Davies, former senior manager for the Hitachi plans, reflected on the disappointment of previous generations in Anglesey, expressing hope that the new project will bring long-awaited economic and social opportunities for the local community.

The announcement carries significant political weight, coming just six months ahead of the Senedd election in Wales. Labour leadership in Westminster aims to demonstrate its commitment to major infrastructure projects, while First Minister Eluned Morgan seeks to secure further investment and additional devolved powers, although wider reforms on funding and the Crown Estate remain unresolved.