Two local MPs visited the decommissioning nuclear power station at Berkeley.

Dr Simon Opher, MP for Stroud, and Claire Young, MP for Thornbury & Yate, found out more about what has been described as 'the nuclear hub of the UK in the future'.

Berkeley and Oldbury are two nuclear power stations which combine to make up the Severn Edge Low Carbon Energy Campus, developed by the Western Gateway partnership.

The partnership has been working to promote both sites, alongside local authorities, universities and businesses, over the last five years to create new jobs and skills for the area.

Last year, the sites received over £100m of investment from the government's Great British Nuclear, alongside a consortium of private businesses including Rolls Royce SMR, University of Bristol and Chiltern Vital Group.

Last week, Western Gateway hosted a roundtable session with the MPs, Great British Nuclear, Chiltern Vital Berkeley and representatives from the councils of Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Stroud.

As part of the tour, MPs visited the Berkeley Green Campus Science & Technology Park, which has now been acquired by Chiltern Vital Berkeley (CVB). The new owners are developing a masterplan which could see the size of the site treble over the coming years, with a focus on the potential interest from the nuclear and low carbon energy sectors.

Sarah Williams-Gardener, chair of Western Gateway, said: "I am in no doubt that only a pan-regional body like the Western Gateway could have so successfully convened so many partners behind the new nuclear opportunity at Severn Edge. To have the MPs here with the UK government's delivery body Great British Nuclear and alongside an incredibly ambitious and energy-specialist development consortium at Berkeley is both exciting and inspiring.

"The Prime Minister has set out an ambition to simplify planning and deliver at pace and our collective message is that Oldbury and Berkeley are ready to go."

Chris Turner, CEO for CVB, said: "This site is steeped in nuclear history, as the home of the first purely civil nuclear power station and world-renowned laboratories. Berkeley will again be pioneering the future of the UK nuclear industry as we develop this masterplan. We have already established European interest in the skills and capabilities that can grow at this site."

The MPs also visited the South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) Berkeley Green University Technical College (UTC), which already offers high-quality cyber and engineering courses and was purpose-built to support the long-awaited nuclear potential at Oldbury.

Dr Simon Opher MP said: "Stroud is already renowned as a site for renewable energy, so it's really exciting to see those talents recognised and built on. We do need some nuclear energy to help the transition to net zero, and we have history in that industry locally. This site could give our young people a real opportunity to become specialists in cutting edge technology, gaining valuable training and hopefully going on to well paid jobs in this industry and beyond."

The Oldbury Power Station site has been acquired by Great British Nuclear and is expected to be a host site for the government's deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Four international companies remain in the running to be awarded the first contracts for SMRs in 2025.

Claire Young MP said: "I've been close to the work of Western Gateway in my previous role at South Gloucestershire Council. I welcome the progress Great British Nuclear are making in the Small Modular Reactors competition, which could finally offer some certainty for the future of this site, which has been long earmarked for new nuclear. This will bring jobs and skills back to a community with a long nuclear history."

Cory Reynolds, director of communications and government relations at Great British Nuclear, said: "We have really welcomed the interest from Western Gateway MPs in this opportunity at Oldbury, which we are confident has a prominent role to play in the future of UK energy security. It is a site that could host four, five or even six SMRs in time. That is power generation at scale and a substantial enhancement to GDP and skills."

Kevin Hamblin, principal and CEO of SGS College, talked about the development of nuclear at Berkeley on last week's Punchline-Gloucester.com's Business Breakfast Briefers show.