Key Takeaways
- Great British Energy – Nuclear has commissioned US firm Jacobs (with AtkinsRéalis and AECOM as subconsultants) to gather environmental baseline data at the Oldbury site, a location earmarked for future UK nuclear capacity.
- The work will cover terrestrial and marine environments, habitats regulations assessments, and related studies needed to inform planning, design, and permitting for potential new reactors.
- Simon Roddy, CEO of Great British Energy – Nuclear, emphasised that deepening site understanding through ground investigations and archaeological surveys is essential for informed future planning decisions.
- Jacobs highlighted its extensive experience on complex nuclear programmes worldwide and pledged to bring that expertise to help lay the environmental foundations for long‑term project success at Oldbury.
- The UK government targets 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, relying on both large reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs); Oldbury has been previously considered suitable for AP1000s, EPRs, UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, and SMRs.
- Oldbury lies on the River Severn north of Bristol, adjacent to a former Magnox plant that operated from 1967‑2012, and Jacobs already supports UK nuclear projects at Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and Sellafield.
Project Announcement and Partner Selection
Great British Energy – Nuclear announced that it has selected Jacobs, a Dallas‑based engineering firm, to develop the environmental baseline data required for the Oldbury site in southwest England. Jacobs will act as the prime contractor, with AtkinsRéalis and AECOM serving as subconsultants. The appointment forms part of Great British Energy – Nuclear’s broader effort to position Oldbury for upcoming nuclear development by securing a robust scientific understanding of the site’s natural conditions. The decision reflects a strategic move to leverage international expertise while ensuring that local knowledge is integrated through the involvement of UK‑based subconsultants.
Scope of Environmental Baseline Work
The multidisciplinary team led by Jacobs will conduct a comprehensive suite of assessments covering both terrestrial and marine environments surrounding Oldbury. This includes detailed habitat surveys, water quality monitoring, soil and sediment analysis, and biodiversity evaluations. A key component of the work is the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), which will examine potential impacts on protected species and sites designated under UK and EU conservation legislation. In addition, the team will undertake associated activities such as ground investigations, archaeological surveys, and socio‑economic studies to inform future planning, design, and permitting decisions for any new nuclear installation that may be sited at Oldbury.
Leadership Perspectives on the Initiative
Simon Roddy, Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy – Nuclear, stressed the importance of continuing to deepen the organisation’s understanding of the Oldbury site through various work packages, including ground investigations and archaeological surveys. He welcomed Jacobs and their partners to the team, noting that their environmental assessments will be pivotal in shaping future planning decisions. Richard Sanderson, Jacobs Executive Vice President, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that strengthening the UK’s energy security and advancing lower‑carbon power necessitates rapid civil nuclear development. He pointed out Jacobs’ track record on some of the most complex nuclear programmes in the UK and globally, underscoring the firm’s readiness to apply its full‑lifecycle experience—from early development through delivery—to help lay the environmental foundations needed for long‑term project success at Oldbury.
Strategic Context: UK Nuclear Ambitions
The UK government has set a target to expand nuclear energy capacity to 24 GW by 2050, with both gigawatt‑scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) forming central pillars of this strategy. In 2024, an agreement was reached to acquire the Hitachi‑owned sites at Wylfa in north Wales and Oldbury‑on‑Severn in southwest England for new nuclear development. While Wylfa has already been earmarked to host the UK’s first SMR plant, Oldbury remains a versatile candidate, having previously been considered suitable for three AP1000 pressurised water reactors, two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs), two or three UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, and various SMR designs. This flexibility underscores Oldbury’s strategic value in meeting the nation’s diverse nuclear technology pathway.
Site Characteristics and Historical Use
Oldbury is situated on the banks of the River Severn, north of Bristol in southwest England. The location adjoins a former Magnox nuclear power station that housed two operational units; the first ran from 1967 to 2011 and the second from 1968 to 2012. The legacy infrastructure and existing site permissions provide a advantageous starting point for new nuclear construction, reducing some of the greenfield challenges associated with entirely undeveloped locations. Past studies have judged the site geologically stable, with suitable access to cooling water from the Severn and proximity to grid connections, further enhancing its attractiveness for future reactors ranging from large traditional designs to compact SMR modules.
Jacobs’ UK Nuclear Footprint and Capabilities
Jacobs maintains a substantial presence in the United Kingdom, employing more than 6,000 staff across 15 offices and 35 additional sites. The firm is actively involved in several high‑profile UK nuclear projects, including Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and Sellafield, giving it deep familiarity with the country’s regulatory environment, safety culture, and supply‑chain dynamics. Jacobs’ multidisciplinary approach—integrating environmental science, engineering, archaeology, and stakeholder engagement—positions it well to deliver the nuanced baseline data required at Oldbury. By drawing on its global nuclear expertise, Jacobs aims to support Great British Energy – Nuclear in establishing a solid environmental foundation that will facilitate timely planning, licensing, and eventual construction of new nuclear capacity at the site.
Implications for Future Nuclear Development at Oldbury
The commissioning of Jacobs and its subconsultants marks a concrete step toward advancing Oldbury’s readiness for new nuclear investment. The comprehensive environmental baseline data generated will feed directly into the site’s licensing dossier, helping to satisfy the stringent requirements of the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation and other relevant authorities. As the UK pursues its 2050 nuclear capacity goal, having a fully characterised site like Oldbury reduces uncertainty for developers, potentially accelerating decision‑making processes for both large‑scale reactors and SMR deployments. Moreover, the collaborative model—pairing a US‑based prime contractor with UK‑specialist subconsultants—demonstrates a template for future projects that seek to blend international best practice with local expertise, ultimately strengthening the nation’s energy security while pursuing low‑carbon power generation.