BEC has been commissioned to undertake targeted market engagement for a clean energy development on land next to Sellafield.
The Government announced in June that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council should work together to explore how the land could be used to boost the UK’s energy security, plus create new jobs and economic growth for the region.
BEC has also been commissioned to create a masterplan for the land, now known as Pioneer Park, which will set out the vision for the wider development.
The site is part of Moorside and is expected to be around 400 acres.
This will take into account the requirements of existing major programmes at Sellafield.
BEC CEO Michael Pemberton, said: “We are delighted that BEC has been commissioned to lead on the initial market engagement for Pioneer Park.
“This process will help us to better define what opportunities would best deliver our ambitions for Pioneer Park and bring the greatest benefit to our community. We will move forward at speed while considering carefully all the information and ideas that we gain through the process.”
Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer, added: “This is early but important progress on our development of Pioneer Park.
“I look forward to hearing what the market thinks of our proposal and I will be very interested in the ideas that are brought forward to benefit our community. BEC is ideally placed to lead this work on our behalf.”
NDA Group CEO David Peattie said: “We’ve been working closely with Cumberland Council, the local MP and other stakeholders in West Cumbria to drive forward progress and this is a tangible step forward for Pioneer Park.
“We are committed to ensuring we get the maximum benefit from this land for the community and wider economy, while ensuring we don’t compromise on delivering our mission.”
Josh MacAlister, Whitehaven & Workington MP, said: “When the Prime Minister announced the Government’s backing for our plan for Pioneer Park in June, we said we’d work at pace to bring forward plans to develop the site and that’s what we’re doing.
“We now need developers to come forward with their best ideas and help to shape our masterplan for Pioneer Park.
“I’m clear that I want to see new nuclear power generation here and the industries it could power and I’m optimistic we’ll get some really exciting proposals brought forward.”
BEC will carry out carry out targeted market engagement with a range of clean energy and redevelopment companies to understand more about the level and technical possibility of producing clean energy on the land as well as what else might be developed alongside it, it said.
This will inform a masterplan for the site, which is expected to be published later this year.
