A DECISION is expected to be announced this autumn whether or not Carlisle has been chosen as the site for a potential £1.3 billion factory. 

The US nuclear industry giant, Holtec, shortlisted Kingmoor Park in Carlisle as the potential site for a small modular reactors (SMR) factory, after a national competition was held back in May this year. 

The 20-hectare facility is projected to contribute approximately £1.5 billion in gross value added to the economy of the chosen location, create 3,600 jobs in construction, and create up to 400 manufacturing jobs once operational.

Efforts to lure Holtec GB to Carlisle were spearheaded by the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Cumberland Council, as well as the Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd team, at the end of July with various representatives visiting the potential Carlisle site. 

Professor Dame Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Holtec's senior advisor in the UK, previously mentioned the "impact on the local economy for the successful bidder being game-changing".

Kingmoor Park was one of four leading bids chosen from 13 responses nationwide.

Other shortlisted locations include Tees Valley, the West Midlands and South Yorkshire. 

By 2050, in accordance with the Government's target, 24GW of nuclear capacity is expected - meeting nearly 25 per cent of the UK's electricity needs.

The proposed factory is expected to yield 2-4 reactors yearly, each valued at £1-2 billion.

The SMRS will be built for deployment in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.

The factory itself, however, won't handle nuclear fuel.

Upon their visit, the leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer voiced his support for the project. 

"We know that we are up against strong opposition but we genuinely believe that the Kingmoor site and all that Carlisle and Cumberland has to offer, make us a very strong contender to persuade Holtec GB to make us its home.”

In August, The Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced their progression to the next phase of assessing Holtec International’s SMR design.

The Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process allows regulators to start assessing safety, security, safeguarding and environmental aspects of new reactor designs before site-specific proposals are tabled.

The GDA's first step began in October 2023, focusing on agreeing on the scope and schedule for Step 2, which has now successfully concluded.

Step 2 is expected to last for 14 months.