Plans have been submitted to the UK government to construct four small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) on the site of the former Cottam coal power station in Nottinghamshire. The project is a joint venture between EDF, the French state-owned energy company, and US-based Holtec. Together, they propose building four SMR-300 reactors with a combined capacity of 1.3 gigawatts, sufficient to power approximately 1.2 million homes.

This development represents one of the first attempts to deploy SMR technology in Britain, aligning with government efforts to diversify the country’s clean energy sources and reduce reliance on intermittent renewables such as wind and solar. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has previously described SMRs as a potential catalyst for a “golden age” of nuclear power in the UK.

The site at Cottam holds historical significance, having housed one of the country’s last coal-fired power plants before its closure in 2019. The introduction of SMRs could mark a significant shift in energy infrastructure at the location. In addition to supplying homes, the developers have indicated that the reactors could support a large data centre being planned by property firm Tritax.

The proposal was formally submitted under the UK government’s Advanced Nuclear Framework, an initiative launched this year designed to accelerate approval processes for new nuclear projects. The framework aims to promote innovation in nuclear technology and streamline regulatory pathways to replace aging power assets and meet net-zero emissions targets.

Rick Springman, president of Holtec, emphasized the broader ambitions tied to the project, including the possibility of establishing manufacturing operations in the UK. “Holtec plans to substantially expand its presence in the UK with a larger operation centre and is evaluating a manufacturing plant to build nuclear equipment in the country,” he said.

EDF and Holtec initially announced their partnership and intentions during former US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK last year, highlighting the collaboration as part of a wider tech prosperity agreement between the two nations. The companies describe SMRs as more cost-effective and faster to build than traditional large-scale nuclear plants, potentially enabling more flexible and distributed power generation.

If approved and constructed on schedule, the four reactors could begin generating electricity early in the next decade, contributing substantially to the UK’s energy security and climate goals.