THE approval of a new nuclear power plant could bring millions of pounds of investment and new jobs to Warrington, according to one of the town’s MPs.

On a recent visit to Bilfinger UK’s Birchwood headquarters, Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols offered her support for the proposed Sizewell C plant on the Suffolk coast.

The major infrastructure programme is expected to provide 3.2GW of clean energy, enough to power six million homes, and create 25,000 new jobs and 1,000 apprenticeships across the country, including in the north west.

And Ms Nichols says that the site would help to meet the current climate emergency head on, while providing an economic boost in the post-coronavirus period.

“The Sizewell C project holds the potential to meet the twin challenges of tackling the climate emergency and delivering economic growth post-Covid, bringing new jobs and millions of pounds of investment into Warrington,” she said.

“Bilfinger UK is a driving force in the region’s nuclear supply chain, much of which is based in the town.

“Together with Hinkley Point C, demand created through the new plant will provide us with the opportunity to develop a world-leading hub with the capacity to deliver low carbon energy infrastructure across the UK and overseas.”

Warrington Guardian:

Bilfinger UK says that the project would provide a huge boost to the nuclear supply chain in the north west, which would have the capability to build low-carbon, secure nuclear power in the UK for generations to come.

Managing director Phill Maurer added: “This is a time-limited opportunity, not just in terms of delivering the significant economic benefits of jobs and investment, but also in advancing the UK’s energy transition.

“Reliable, always-on nuclear generation will enable us to make fundamental progress towards net zero by reducing emissions and limiting our reliance on oversees imports.

“By providing seven per cent of our energy needs through low-carbon electricity, Sizewell C can play a vital role in this journey.

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“We look forward to working with Charlotte to highlight to the Government the positive impact this project could have on the local economy and the UK as a whole.”

Birchwood-based Bilfinger UK recently won two new contracts worth £350million to deliver the design, procurement, supplier management, fabrication and construction of high-quality pipework and specialist equipment for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

The business is one of the UK’s leading providers of integrated engineering and technical services to the process industry and the energy sector and employs more than 2,500 people.