A consortium headed by British engineering giant Rolls Royce has revealed it expects to develop its first-of-a-kind small modular nuclear reactors in Cumbria, northwest England.

Alan Woods, director of strategy and business development at Rolls Royce, told delegates at the Global Reach 2019 event in Manchester that the company is focusing its efforts on developing small modular reactors at existing licensed nuclear sites – with Cumbria and Wales its top targets.

In July the government said it will invest up to £18m to support the design of the UK-made SMRs. And this week UK Research and Innovation pledged to provide a further £18m, which will be matched by members of the consortium, to progress the project.