The selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to rollout nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) across the UK was a moment for celebration in the British energy world this summer. The programme will see a further £2.5 billion invested in the SMRs, and will sit alongside other privately financed investment in SMRs such as the Community Nuclear Power development that WSP is working on in Teesside.

With the Planning & Infrastructure Bill advancing through Parliament to streamline planning for nationally significant infrastructure - including SMRs - and further investment announced under the US-UK nuclear partnership, the Government’s commitment to expanding nuclear in England and Wales is clear.

But if the SMR programme is to succeed, its rollout must also be underpinned by public trust and support: something that public bodies and promotors cannot take for granted in the current climate. The opportunities presented by the nuclear SMR programme represents a real chance to change that.

Nuclear at WSP
Nuclear SMRs offer substantial benefits to local communities. Their deployment can create a significant number of high-quality jobs, apprenticeships, and robust local supply chains, fostering long-term economic growth.

A legacy of economic growth

In addition to providing a vital source of clean energy that is essential for achieving our decarbonisation ambitions, nuclear SMRs offer substantial benefits to local communities. Their deployment can create a significant number of high-quality jobs, apprenticeships, and robust local supply chains, fostering long-term economic growth.

A recent WSP study into the potential benefits of the West Burton prototype Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) nuclear fusion plant in Nottinghamshire showed that it could generate more than 30,000 direct jobs, over 15,000 indirect jobs, and contribute in excess of £3 billion in Gross Value Added to the economy.

This sort of investment is transformational for communities, and it’s clear that many towns have grown and thrived around nuclear power stations over the last 80 years. Places like Seascale in Cumbria, Trawsfynydd in Wales, Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk have seen generations of families settle, work and build their lives around the opportunities created by nuclear infrastructure. 

More than just being home to nuclear power stations, these areas have become homes to a vast array of schools, ancillary businesses and community services that have developed in parallel. The legacy of these sites shows how nuclear SMRs now have the potential to shape the social and economic fabric of regions across Britain, and help provide skills, jobs, and growth.

And with Government actively exploring new siting policies through National Policy Statement EN-7 to enable SMRs to be built beyond existing nuclear sites, more British towns than ever before stand to benefit from that boost.

Despite this, nuclear is, of course, not universally welcomed in many communities and there is a significant opportunity now to help address local concerns.

Of adults support building new nuclear power stations [YouGov – June 2025]
55%
Of adults oppose building new nuclear power stations [YouGov – June 2025]
23%
Of adults polled by the UK government had heard of SMRs [DESNZ – June 2025]
38%

Public support is growing, but understanding remains limited

In the UK more people are supportive of nuclear than against it. According to nationwide YouGov polling from June 2025, 55% of adults support building new nuclear power stations, with only 23 percent opposed.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s own regular poll in 2025 found that 65% of the public believe nuclear should remain part of the UK energy mix.

However, awareness of SMRs remains low. According to the same poll, only 38% of people have actually heard of them, and just 9% feel they know much about them. Local support is even more fragile, with 22% of people saying they’d support the construction of a nuclear power station in their area, whilst 37% would actively oppose it. The top reason for local opposition is consistent, with 74% of respondents citing safety or security concerns, which remains a major public perception risk, and 69% highlighting fears about waste disposal. The government and industry is trying to tackle this through a consent-based approach to siting and engagement; and through long-term solutions to waste like the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) programme which WSP is supporting. 

SMRs must be introduced differently

Unlike traditional nuclear stations, SMRs can be built beyond existing nuclear sites. The Government has said it will allow new locations to be considered, including former industrial land. The Community Nuclear Power project Teesside that we are working on is one example. This expands flexibility but also increases exposure to communities who may have no history with nuclear infrastructure, and for these communities trust will need to be built again from first principles.

Engagement around SMRs, in areas new to nuclear and those who have existing sites therefore needs to go beyond informing people of emerging plans, and needs to involve communities in shaping outcomes from the start. 

Learning lessons from the hydrogen sector

Hydrogen production, storage and distribution infrastructure projects could offer a valuable playbook for building local trust and acceptance. Developers in the hydrogen sector have found success by engaging communities early, transparently addressing concerns around safety and environmental impact, and providing clear, accessible information about both risks and benefits. 

Although nuclear has specific and historic safety concerns, for developers promoting SMRs, looking at lessons that can be learned from hydrogen projects could prove valuable. By demystifying technology and involving communities in decision-making, the nuclear industry can bring communities with them, building support for SMRs and placing them as a safe way of securing the UK’s energy supply in an increasingly uncertain and volatile world.

Engagement around SMRs, in areas new to nuclear and those who have existing sites therefore needs to go beyond informing people of emerging plans, and needs to involve communities in shaping outcomes from the start.

Leading the way in Nuclear

Our stakeholder engagement and strategic communications team is an important part of the expertise of our nuclear team. Whether working on generation, decommissioning or disposal we bring together expertise across the nuclear lifecycle, from planning and consenting to engineering, safety and stakeholder engagement. We understand that rolling out SMRs at scale is a ‘complex problem’ which can’t be solved by one party alone, and requires a coalition of partners who can think systemically, act collaboratively and deliver with confidence.

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FAQ’s

SMRs are small-scale, factory-made nuclear reactors with modular or standardised designs for an electrical output. The Rolls Royce SMRs have an output of 470MW. The lower end for SMRs tends to be >100MW. Anything below that is considered an Advanced Modular Reaction (AMR).

Due to their size and flexibility, components are produced in factories, significantly lowering costs, improving manufacturing quality and consistency, streamlining the permit process, and reducing investment risks. The modules are transported to the final installation site resulting in construction time measured in months rather than years. They are well-suited for sites across the United Kingdom without a heavy investment in enabling infrastructure for construction, for example upgrading local roads and railways.

Small modular reactors can be used to support local, regional and national energy needs. However there is growing interest in using them to support energy-intensive sectors and industries. Several developers are developing proposals to use them to provide energy for Data Centres. By incorporating SMRs into their energy mix, technology and manufacturing companies can reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing energy security and reliability.

There are no small modular reactors operational outside of Russia and China. The UK Government’s nuclear agency, Great British Energy - Nuclear has selected Rolls Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first small modular reactors. In addition to this, there is a growing number of other private financed schemes using a variety of small modular reactors designs such as the Westinghouse fleet proposed by Community Nuclear Power Ltd.