A Polish-led consortium has unveiled ambitious plans to construct 14 nuclear reactors across Britain in a £35bn investment programme designed to significantly expand the UK’s electricity generation capacity.
The group, SGE, said the proposed fleet of small modular reactors could be operational from 2034 and would generate enough electricity to power around eight million homes.
If delivered in full, the project would account for approximately 11% of the UK’s electricity supply, marking one of the most substantial nuclear expansion proposals in decades.
Under the proposal, the reactors would be built across three UK sites, with Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire identified as a potential location for up to six units.
The consortium is competing directly with other developers, including Rolls-Royce, in the race to deploy small modular reactor technology in Britain.
The reactors will be based on the BWRX-300 design developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which uses factory-built modular components intended to reduce construction time and cost compared with traditional nuclear plants.
The proposal comes as the Government seeks to expand domestic nuclear capacity to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen long-term energy security.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said ministers were delivering a “golden age of nuclear”, highlighting expectations of investment and skilled job creation.
The consortium has indicated it aims to deliver electricity at a lower price than current UK nuclear developments, including Hinkley Point C, where long-term contracts exceed £150 per megawatt hour.
However, analysts note that previous nuclear megaprojects in the UK have faced significant cost overruns and delays, raising questions over delivery risk and financing structures.
SGE plans to pursue a Contract for Difference mechanism, which guarantees a fixed price for electricity generated over a set period.
The group expects to enter the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Pipeline later this year, with site selection and financial negotiations continuing through 2027.
If approved, commercial operations could begin in the mid-2030s.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of escalating costs in the UK’s existing nuclear programme.
Hinkley Point C’s estimated cost has risen from £18bn to around £50bn, while Sizewell C has nearly doubled from earlier projections to approximately £48bn.
The UK also faces long-term liabilities linked to nuclear waste storage, with decommissioning and geological disposal costs estimated at more than £200bn over the coming century.
Small modular reactors are increasingly seen as a potential solution to cost and construction risks associated with large-scale nuclear projects.
However, the technology remains largely unproven at commercial scale, meaning delivery timelines, costs and performance remain uncertain.
If realised, the Polish-led scheme would represent one of the most significant foreign-backed investments in UK energy infrastructure in decades.
Rory Connor Partner at law firm Addleshaw Goddard, Co-Head of Power, Infrastructure Projects & Energy Addleshaw Goddard said: “This is a significant vote of confidence in the UK’s nuclear investment environment.
“The advanced nuclear framework was created precisely to attract privately led projects alongside the Great British Energy – Nuclear programme, and a 4.2GW, multi-site SMR proposition backed by international capital shows that policy is working.
“Investors are responding to three things: a credible route to market through contracts for difference, the prospect of National Wealth Fund co-investment, and a regulatory regime with genuine SMR experience.
“The test will be execution — generic design assessment, site licensing and grid connection timelines will determine whether the 2034 target holds. But the direction of travel is clear: nuclear is becoming an investable asset class in the UK, and that is a structural shift for the energy transition.”
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