Great British Energy – Nuclear has published the December edition of its quarterly newsletter, confirming Wylfa on Anglesey as the location for the UK’s first small modular reactors. The update consolidates recent announcements on site selection, leadership and programme milestones.
Government statements set out the scope of the project: an initial build of three Rolls‑Royce SMR units at Wylfa, delivering up to 1.5GW of low‑carbon generation and supporting up to 3,000 jobs in Wales during peak construction.
The confirmation forms part of a wider programme to accelerate domestic nuclear capacity. The November announcement also reiterated government backing of £2.5 billion for the SMR programme and framed Wylfa as a strategic step in the Clean Energy Superpower plan.
Leadership changes have been clarified. Simon Bowen was announced as Chair of GBE‑N on 13 November 2025, while Simon Roddy was appointed Chief Executive on 8 December 2025, taking up the role on 2 March 2026. These appointments align governance with delivery as the project enters pre‑construction.
Regulatory sequencing is now central. The Rolls‑Royce SMR design is in Step 3 of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment, following completion of Step 2 in July 2024. ONR, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales will continue their coordinated assessment ahead of any site‑specific permissions.
Planning and consents will proceed through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. In Wales, projects over 350MW require a Development Consent Order decided by the Secretary of State, with the Planning Inspectorate examining the application. Nuclear regulators advise alongside this process.
Ministers have indicated that preparatory work at Wylfa is expected to begin in 2026, subject to necessary permissions. That timeline sits alongside ongoing regulatory assessment and the statutory consultation and examination stages under the Planning Act 2008.
Parliamentary and Welsh Government statements note that Wylfa will start with three units and has the potential to host up to eight, subject to future policy and funding decisions. Any expansion beyond the initial build would require separate approvals.
GBE‑N’s early careers intake has begun, with the first cohort launched in August 2025 in partnership with Energus and Cogent Skills, and engagement continuing through the Nuclear Institute’s Young Generation Network. This underpins workforce planning for construction and operations.
Institutionally, Great British Nuclear was renamed Great British Energy – Nuclear in June 2025, reflecting the organisation’s permanent role in delivering new nuclear projects beyond Sizewell C. The re‑designation provides clarity on remit, accountability and programme stewardship.
For developers and suppliers, the near‑term focus is on design maturity and supply‑chain readiness consistent with fleet deployment. Rolls‑Royce has confirmed the Wylfa start as the anchor for its UK programme, signalling upcoming supplier engagement and local content opportunities.
For local and regional stakeholders, the practical implications include forthcoming statutory consultations, environmental permitting by Natural Resources Wales, and coordination with the ONR licensing process. These are prerequisites to major works and will shape the construction profile from 2026 onward.