UK Wylfa SMR project early works package valued at up to £1.1 billion

Great British Energy–Nuclear (GBE-N) has launched market engagement for an early works package, with the proposed scope covering civil engineering, infrastructure, building and mechanical & electrical engineering, and earthworks. According to the prior information notice published on 20 August, the contract is estimated to be worth between £730 million and £1.1 billion.

The notice states that the package falls within GBE-N's owner's scope of work, primarily intended to prepare the site for subsequent main construction and support technology partners in installing and commissioning small modular reactor (SMR) technology. Related preparatory activities include planning, permitting, design, and construction. The procurement documents do not specify a particular site, but the Wylfa nuclear site on Anglesey, Wales, has been selected as one of the locations for the UK's first SMR development project, with the initial phase planned to use Rolls-Royce SMR technology.

Under current arrangements, the contract is expected to commence on 1 June 2028 and run until 1 June 2034, with a possible extension to 1 June 2037. The scope includes Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 design, as well as site preparation works such as species relocation, environmental remediation, site clearance, temporary facilities, and utility installation.

The package also includes supporting infrastructure such as drainage systems and haul roads to underpin subsequent large-scale earthworks. GBE-N stated that the early works will establish suitable ground levels, create safe access routes, and provide the necessary physical platform for the main works, thereby reducing construction risk and accelerating follow-on construction interfaces.

GBE-N had considered splitting the package into two contracts but ultimately decided to procure it as a single package to reduce interface risks between different contractors. The company also noted that the currently published scope, schedule, and contract value are based on information and assumptions available at this stage, and arrangements may still be adjusted as the project matures and further validation work progresses.

GBE-N plans to hold an online market engagement event for potential suppliers on 3 September to present the contracts proposed within the owner's scope, with a focus on the procurement approach, works and services scope, and preliminary contractual arrangements for the early works package. The formal tender notice is expected to be published on 1 March 2027, and the procurement documents indicate that the package is suitable for SME participation.

Wylfa nuclear power station operated for more than 40 years before ceasing generation in 2015. Hitachi of Japan had previously planned to build a large-scale nuclear project at the site, but the plan was terminated in 2020 after financing could not be secured. At present, the Wylfa SMR project still requires regulatory approvals and a final investment decision, with the aim of starting electricity generation in the 2030s.