Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, today (Friday 28 February) welcomed plans by the Westinghouse Electric Company to establish the Clean Energy Technology Park at the Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing site in Lancashire.

The union said the park will increase the site’s ‘ability to play a significant role in the UK’s process towards net zero by 2050’ and bring jobs and investment to the north west of England. 

The Clean Energy Technology Park will be a centre of innovation for advanced nuclear technologies, allowing the developers, supply chain businesses and academics who will be located there to work collaboratively. 

The park, which is being supported by the National Nuclear Laboratory, will also be a centre of excellence for the management of nuclear materials, complementing Westinghouse’s existing nuclear manufacturing facilities at the Springfields site. 

Unite national officer for energy and utilities Peter McIntosh said: “The announcement today made by Westinghouse supported by the National Nuclear Laboratory is to be welcomed.  

“The Springfields site is already a world-class facility and a key strategic asset to the UK. The Clean Energy Technology Park will only add to its ability to play a significant role in the UK’s process towards net zero by 2050.

“It will bring much needed investment to the north west of England and provide long-term, highly skilled jobs.”