Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales has been selected as the site to deliver the UK’s first small modular reactor nuclear power station

Built by publicly-owned Great British Energy-Nuclear (GBE-N) and, subject to final contract, designed by Britain’s Rolls-Royce SMR – the £2.5bn investment will also create thousands of jobs.

Wylfa, which has nuclear heritage dating back to the 1960s, will host three Rolls Royce SMRs. GBE-N will start activity on the site in 2026 and also assess whether the site could potentially host up to eight mini reactors. The ambition is for Wylfa’s small modular reactors to be supplying power to the grid from the mid-2030s.

The first-of-its-kind project is expected to support up to 3,000 jobs in the local community at peak construction, underpinned by billions of pounds of infrastructure investment out to the mid-2030s.

The UK’s first small modular reactors – mini nuclear reactors which are smaller and quicker to build than some traditional nuclear power stations - are expected to deliver power for the equivalent of around three million homes as part of the government’s clean energy superpower mission.

Prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: “Britain was once a world-leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia has meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind.

“Today, that changes. We’re using all the tools in our armoury – cutting red tape, changing planning laws, and backing growth - to deliver the country’s first SMR in North Wales.

“This government isn’t just reversing decline, it’s delivering thousands of future-proofed jobs, driving billions in investment and providing cheaper energy bills in the long term.”

Alongside the siting announcement, to pursue the option of a further large-scale reactor project beyond the current deployments at Hinkley Point C and the recently confirmed Sizewell C, the government is announcing that Great British Energy-Nuclear has been tasked with identifying suitable sites that could potentially host such a project.

GBE-N will report back by autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond. The energy secretary has requested this includes sites across the UK including Scotland.

Any further large-scale project, subject to future policy decisions, would be similar in scale to the Hinkley Point C or Sizewell C projects, with the potential to power the equivalent of six million homes. Alongside SMRs and other advanced nuclear projects, this could further deliver the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, boosting the country’s energy security, securing the next generation of good, skilled jobs and protecting billpayers.

Secretary of state for Wales, Jo Stevens, said: “This is huge news – one of the largest public investments in Welsh history that will bring thousands of high-quality jobs to the local economy. We said we would deliver new nuclear where other governments dithered and delayed and we said we would deliver growth and prosperity across Wales. Today we are doing just that.”

There is also strong export potential for small modular reactors, after the UK and Czechia signed a deal to cooperate on civil nuclear. It comes after Rolls-Royce SMR and Czechia’s largest public company, ČEZ, agreed last year to partner on SMRs, with ČEZ acquiring a 20% stake.

GBE-N also owns the Oldbury nuclear site in Gloucestershire. As a site which has previously hosted a nuclear power station, it also has great potential for new nuclear, including the potential to support the privately-led projects being developed by the nuclear industry.

Simon Bowen, chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, added: “This is a historic moment for the UK, and is another momentous step in realising Britain’s potential in leading the way on nuclear energy.

“These first SMRs at Wylfa will lay the groundwork for a fleet-based approach to nuclear development, strengthening the UK’s energy independence and bringing long-term investment to the local economy.

“Wylfa has a proud history of nuclear excellence, and we’re excited to build on that foundation to deliver jobs, training, and low-carbon energy for generations to come.”

Chris Cholerton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “Today’s announcement marks the first step in what will be a 100-year commitment to clean energy, innovation, and community partnership at Wylfa.”

The news has also been welcomed by industry. Ben Brittain, director of public affairs at  Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), said: “Confirming Wylfa as the site for Britain’s next SMR is a huge step forward for the UK’s energy ambitions. This is exactly the kind of project that shows how we can marry clean energy with good jobs, innovation and long-term economic benefit for communities right across the country.

“The challenge now is delivery - getting spades in the ground, maintaining momentum and making sure the benefits are felt locally as well as nationally.

“As the government promised, Britain is entering its golden age of nuclear and ACE members are at the forefront of delivering that critical energy infrastructure, working in partnership across industry and government to bring the global engineering excellence and expertise needed to turn the government’s ambition into reality.”