Laing O’Rourke Joins Consortium Behind 14-Reactor UK Nuclear Programme

Laing O’Rourke has joined an international consortium bidding to deliver what could become the UK’s largest privately funded nuclear programme, with plans to build 14 small modular reactors (SMRs) across three sites.

The proposal, led by Warsaw-based developer SGE, has been submitted under the Government’s Advanced Nuclear Framework and is based on GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 reactor technology.

If

approved, the 4.2GW programme could generate enough electricity to power almost eight million homes, meeting around 11% of the UK’s electricity demand.

The delivery consortium brings together GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon, Google Cloud, Fermi Development and Etara.

The programme would begin with a six-reactor power station before expanding to two further multi-unit sites, although preferred locations have not yet been announced.

Laing O’Rourke will provide its industrialised construction expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities, drawing on experience gained from delivering major infrastructure and nuclear projects to improve productivity, safety and programme certainty.

The BWRX-300 reactor design completed Step 2 of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment in late 2025 and is already under construction at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Canada.

The consortium expects the proposal to enter the Government’s Advanced Nuclear Pipeline later this year, with site selection and funding discussions anticipated during 2027. Subject to approvals, major site preparation could begin around 2028, with the first reactor targeted to enter commercial operation in 2034.