French state-controlled utility EDF has confirmed it has recently started looking at the Moorside site in Cumbria, northwest England, as a possible location for new nuclear power reactors.

Julia Pyke, a director of financing for the Sizewell C nuclear project at EDF’s UK division EDF Energy, told a webinar hosted by the Nuclear Energy Agency that Moorside could be an energy hub where nuclear reactors could also be used for heat and hydrogen.

The London-based Daily Telegraph newspaper reported earlier this week that EDF is exploring plans for new nuclear power reactors at Moorside. According to unconfirmed reports in the newspaper, EDF’s interest in the area would be as part of a consortium rather than as lead developer.

The Daily Telegraph said the French utility has met with local officials keen to revive the area’s nuclear industry after Toshiba abandoned plans to build three Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power units at Moorside in late 2018.