The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced a £1 million investment to support the development of a masterplan for Pioneer Park, a proposed clean energy development on land near Sellafield. The funding will enable local development company BEC to create a detailed plan outlining how clean energy technologies, as well as AI and data centre infrastructure, could be integrated to stimulate long-term economic growth and job creation, while also considering Sellafield’s ongoing operational needs.
This funding follows months of coordinated work led through the Cumberland Nuclear Futures Board, chaired by MP Josh MacAlister, and involving the NDA, Cumberland Council, Sellafield Ltd., and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The initiative aims to build on West Cumbria’s strong nuclear heritage while positioning the region as a hub for future clean energy and technology innovation.
NDA Chief Executive David Peattie emphasized that the project reflects a forward-looking approach by leveraging existing nuclear expertise to create lasting opportunities for new technologies and investments. Local leaders, including MP Josh MacAlister and Cumberland Council Leader Mark Fryer, noted that the funding marks a major step toward bringing new nuclear and advanced technologies to West Cumbria, strengthening the region’s prospects for clean growth and high-quality employment.
BEC Chief Executive Michael Pemberton highlighted that the NDA’s financial support will allow the Pioneer Park project to progress quickly, with the potential to transform West Cumbria’s economy through the combination of nuclear, AI, and technology-driven development. The NDA, which manages the decommissioning of the UK’s earliest nuclear sites, continues to invest around £15 million annually in socio-economic initiatives that benefit local communities and foster long-term development.
