Agenda item

To seek endorsement of a bid nominating the former nuclear energy production and new build sites at Berkeley and Oldbury to host a world first fusion power plant and associated innovation centre and business park, as part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s ‘STEP’ (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme.

Councillor Cornell, The Leader, presented the above report and advised that Members had had the opportunity to attend 2 briefings regarding the proposed power plant. She outlined the timeline for the site nomination bid process which was nationwide and likely to be highly competitive. UKAEA had established a scoring process against a set of criteria and various assessment stages will be carried out prior to making a final recommendation to the Minister in late 2022. The Project Steering Group agreed that Western Gateway would be the most appropriate lead entity to submit the bid nomination. The Steering Group also suggested that Oldbury should be named as the focus for the siting of the STEP fusion reactor with Berkeley hosting the Technical Centre and an ecology of related innovation businesses. There is a strong alignment between the bid nomination and a number of key local and County wide policies and plans including the current and emerging Local Plans, the draft Gloucestershire Local Industrial Strategy (2019) and the Gloucestershire Sustainable Energy Strategy (2019).

Proposed by Councillor Cornell and seconded by Councillor Davies.

Councillor Braun questioned whether, given that the sites were in a Flood Zone 3, work had been carried out on the costs and implications of the flood risks to the sites. The Strategic Director of Place indicated that whilst this detailed work had not yet been carried out it would need to be addressed should the bid be selected.

Councillor Whiteside asked whether the legacy knowledge and skills referred to had been quantified as he believed very different skills would be needed for fusion. It was noted that many of those involved in the project had long standing connections to the sites which are an integral part of the identity of the district. The Strategic Director of Place also explained that there is set of complementary skills, including those in aerospace, robotics and high temperature, which were essential for the new fusion technology and which have a strong presence in Gloucestershire.

Councillor Whiteside asked whether a skills audit had been undertaken to ascertain whether people with the required skills would be available locally or whether they would have to be drawn from other areas. The Strategic Director of Place clarified that, whilst a detailed audit had not been carried out, the report made clear these would be available both locally and further afield. He emphasised that no location would have a readymade supply of skilled labour for this new technology so this proposal would be as strong as others nationally.

Councillor Dewey asked whether consideration had been given to the implications of the bid in relation to Stroud District’s Carbon Neutral Strategy 2030, particularly construction costs, carbon emissions from those travelling to the sites and energy input. Councillor Cornell confirmed that this was important and complex work which would be required if the bid was progressed to a further stage.

Councillor Jones congratulated the Strategic Director of Place and his team for putting together a bold and visionary bid within very short timescales. He advised that he would support the bid given the hugely beneficial knock-on effects for the whole district including education for young people, and local skill development.

Councillor Kay stated that he believed the presentation of the bid had been unsatisfactory with Officers and others being unable to answer significant questions. He confirmed that he would support the bid at this stage but that if the bid was progressed answers would be required to the issues raised.

Councillor Whiteside stated that the Council needed to know the environmental implications of the bid particularly in relation to the Carbon Neutral Strategy 2030. He believed that there would be significant damage to the area around Berkeley by commuters, and that careful spatial planning was required. He indicated that he would not support the bid and that proper use needs to be made of existing technologies.

Councillor Braun indicated that she could not support the bid as it did not give sufficient consideration to the urgency of renewable energy generation on the sites now.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried with 32 votes for, 4 against and 4 abstentions.