Great British Energy’s nuclear arm has appointed WSP and Mott MacDonald to provide specialist environmental services and permitting support for the small modular reactor (SMR) programme at Wylfa.
Together, the five‑year appointments are valued at up to £25m across the programme.
WSP and Mott MacDonald will support environmental assessment, regulatory compliance and permitting pathways for the nuclear project.
Kenny Douglas, development director for GBE – Nuclear’s (GBE-N) development companies, said that ensuring the programme progresses on a strong environmental and regulatory foundation will be critical to delivering the project.
“The support of WSP and Mott MacDonald brings the depth of expertise needed to navigate a complex permissions landscape with confidence, pace and rigour,” Douglas added.
Wylfa, on Anglesey in north Wales, will be the location for the UK’s first SMR nuclear power plant. The project is expected to support up to 3,000 local jobs at peak construction.
Turning ‘ambition into delivery’
Commenting on the project, Stuart McLaren, head of nuclear and energy sector director at WSP, said: “Moving from first-of-a-kind to fleet at pace, without compromising safety, quality or environmental standards, is critical to success.
“Our role is to help ensure the programme is consentable and constructable, enabling timely, well-evidenced permissions that de-risk the critical path and provide delivery certainty as the programme matures, helping GBE-N turn ambition into delivery.”
Lucy Morton, environment, nature and consents development director at Mott MacDonald, added: “By combining our significant technical excellence with a collaborative approach, we’ll help GBE-N secure the required consents and set a benchmark for responsible, low-carbon energy development, whilst ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded from concept through delivery.”
