Holtec Britain has selected the 80-hectare GatewayEast site near Doncaster Sheffield Airport for its planned small modular reactor (SMR) factory.
The firm said the project would create almost 20,000 construction and supply-chain jobs.
GatewayEast (pictured) beat two other shortlisted locations within South Yorkshire following a nationwide search of 13 regions. The company said it was now entering negotiations with site developer Peel Land.
Holtec said its SMR facility will produce two units per year, with 50 per cent of output destined for overseas markets.
The plant is the centrepiece of the firm’s UK investment strategy, forecast to generate £1.5bn in gross value added and support more than 20,000 jobs over 20 years, according to economic analysis by Bradshaw Advisory.
This includes 3,600 construction roles, more than 16,000 supply chain jobs and 3,000 unionised engineering posts.
South Yorkshire was chosen in part due to its proximity to advanced manufacturing partners, Holtec said in a statement this morning (30 May).
The firm has signed memoranda of understanding with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield Forgemasters, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
Holtec has also pledged to use 70 per cent UK content in the manufacture of its SMRs and said it had strong union engagement.
The site is next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which is due to reopen following £30m in government support confirmed by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month.
The airport closed in 2022 and local politicians have campaigned for its return as a driver of economic growth.
Holtec has operated in the UK for nearly 30 years and is a finalist in the Great British Nuclear SMR competition.
Its SMR-160 design is a pressurised water reactor similar to those being built at Hinkley Point C, which the company said would allow for supply chain standardisation and workforce upskilling in the UK.
Holtec said its investment would help the UK establish a first-mover advantage in the growing global market for SMR components.
Source: Holtec press release