The company due to produce the reactors for Cumbria’s proposed nuclear new build has said development of a new technology in the UK can help secure jobs in the county.

Westinghouse Electric, due to produce three AP1000 models for the proposed power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield, made the comments about small modular reactors (SMRs), a separate technology designed to complement large-scale nuclear projects.

The Government has been reported to be keen on these 'mini' reactors to prevent future blackouts as the UK's energy infrastructure ages.

Westinghouse, which has an office in Moor Row, is one of several companies interested in developing the technology.

“The UK is an extremely important market for Westinghouse. We believe that we can deliver even greater economic benefit to the UK through our nuclear new build projects, in addition to the £100m spent annually by the company in the local economy,” said Mick Gornall, UK managing director for Westinghouse.

“More than 85 per cent of our SMR’s design, licence and procurement scope can be delivered by the UK."

A spokesman added: "Currently, Westinghouse employs 1,100 highly-skilled and experienced nuclear professionals in the U.K., between Springfields and west Cumbria.

"The deployment of Westinghouse’s SMR in the UK would help safeguard these skills for the future, and ensure the UK supply chain continues to benefit from the £100m spent annually by the company in the local economy."

Westinghouse, once part of BNFL, is based in Pittsburgh. It was formerly part of Toshiba but is no longer considered part of the Japanese giant after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the USA.