The UK Government has confirmed that Wylfa on Anglesey will host the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power station, marking the most significant industrial investment in North Wales for a generation.
The project, to be delivered by Great British Energy–Nuclear and expected to use Rolls-Royce SMR technology subject to final contract, forms a central plank of the government’s plan to usher in a new “golden age” of nuclear power. At peak construction, the site is expected to support around 3,000 jobs and attract over £2.5bn of investment through to the mid-2030s.
Wylfa, which has a nuclear heritage dating back to the 1960s, will be home to a new fleet of mini-reactors designed to be cheaper and quicker to build than traditional large-scale plants. Once operational, the SMRs are expected to generate enough clean power for around 3 million homes, strengthening the UK’s long-term energy security.
The investment builds on wider government efforts to boost the North Wales economy, including an Investment Zone for advanced manufacturing, the Anglesey Freeport and upgrades to the North Wales mainline.
Prime Minister said the decision marks a break from “years of neglect and inertia” and will deliver future-proofed jobs, cheaper long-term energy bills and a renewed industrial base in North Wales.
Alongside the Wylfa announcement, ministers have tasked Great British Energy–Nuclear with identifying potential sites for a new large-scale reactor, similar in scale to Hinkley Point C or Sizewell C. A list of candidate locations—across all parts of the UK, including Scotland—will be provided by Autumn 2026 to inform future spending decisions.
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider clean energy strategy, which includes major backing for Sizewell C and increased cooperation with the US to accelerate nuclear deployment.
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