Oldbury, possible Reactor

PLANS to carry out investigation work for a proposed new nuclear power

station at Oldbury-on-Severn have been submitted to South Gloucestershire
Council. The move by Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) comes as
local politicians have been told a decision on whether to build a new Small
Modular Reactor at the site, close to the decommissioned Oldbury Power
Station, could be announced within weeks. Land at Oldbury and another
nuclear site at Wylfa, on Anglesey, was bought back for £160 million by
the last government early last year. GBE-N, a government “arms-length
body” created to bring new nuclear power generating projects, announced
during the summer that it had appointed Rolls-Royce SMR to build the new
type of reactors – either Oldbury or Wylfa will now be chosen to host the
first one. GBE-N says a decision is expected “soon”. In September it
submitted a full planning application to the council to carry out ground
investigations at the site. GBE-N conducted a series of meetings with
councils near the Oldbury site, including one with Rockhampton Parish
Council. The councillors said they were told a decision on the site
“could be taken as soon as this October”. They said: “The Parish