Nuclear decision will help power Gloucestershire economy

Gloucestershire should be very excited about what looks to be happening at the former nuclear power site at Oldbury and at Berkeley Green, writes Ian Mean, director of Business West Gloucestershire.

I believe Gloucestershire’s economy stands to get a great boost with the government’s Budget announcement to buy the former nuclear site at Oldbury.

The impact of the purchase from Hitachi will almost certainly enhance the development at  Berkeley Green-the other former nuclear site just over four miles away. 

The government Budget announcement had not been expected, and I understand that the £160 million deal by Great British Nuclear, was completed in just a few weeks. 

The land purchase from Hitachi also includes the former Wylfa nuclear site on Anglesey.  

I believe that up to 2,000 people could well be employed at Oldbury and Berkeley in the future. 

And major blue-chip companies could now be attracted to set up at Berkeley Green, which is in the process of being sold by South Gloucestershire  and Stroud College to the Chiltern Vital Group (CVG). 

Taken together, the Great British Nuclear plan to buy Oldbury from Hitachi and the CVG intention to purchase Berkeley are, I believe, very s…