Spending Review points to a nuclear revolution for Gloucestershire economy.

The north Gloucestershire development of the Golden Valley might be the county's posterboy, but plans for nuclear for the South of the county will trigger an even greater economic driver.

The commitment to nuclear power projects by the Chancellor in her Spending Review is great news for the Gloucestershire economy.

My optimism is based on the fact that Rachel Reeves announced last week that Rolls-Royce are now the preferred bidder for the development of the new small modular reactors(SMRs).

I believe that these mini reactors-as many as six of them here in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire-have the potential to provide thousands of skilled jobs and the opportunity of millions of pounds flowing into our regional economy here in the South West.

Berkeley and Oldbury-the two former decommissioned nuclear sites now hold a major key to a big nuclear hub.

We have waited a long time for the result of the government’s decision on the SMR competitive bid but now that has been announced I expect the planning process to start in earnest.

However, this will not be a quick process and the development of skills for this new technology is a major challenge.

Earlier this year, in an e…