NDA funds £1m Pioneer Park clean energy plan in Cumbria

On 14 November 2025, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said it will fund a £1 million masterplan for Pioneer Park, a clean energy site next to Sellafield in West Cumbria. Local developer BEC will draw up the plan to test how low‑carbon power and space for AI and data centres could work alongside Sellafield’s ongoing needs, according to a GOV.UK update.

Think of a masterplan as the site’s playbook. It sets the big picture before individual planning applications arrive: what might be built, where it could sit, how traffic, grid connections, water and heat will be managed, and what steps are needed to protect people and nature. It usually includes phasing, cost ranges and evidence to support future decisions, so communities and investors know what to expect.

Sellafield’s past matters here. The site is known for nuclear fuel work and now focuses on clean‑up. Decommissioning means carefully dismantling old facilities, managing radioactive waste safely and monitoring the environment so land can be reused. That takes decades and comes with strict controls, which is why any new development nearby must respect safety zones, security and the daily operations of the site.

The funding follows months of joint work through the Cumberland Nuclear Futures Board, chaired by Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister and involving the NDA, Cumberland Council, Sellafield Ltd and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Local leaders see this as a milestone towards bringing new nuclear to West Cumbria, but the details will be tested through the plan.

What might ‘clean energy’ mean in practice? The masterplan can examine options such as advanced nuclear technologies, on‑site solar, battery storage and connections to the national grid. It could also consider reusing waste heat and building skills pipelines with colleges. Nothing is committed yet; the plan is there to test what is technically possible, financially sensible and acceptable to the community.

Why bring AI and data centres into the same conversation? Modern data centres draw steady, high electrical loads and generate a lot of heat. If you place them next to reliable low‑carbon power and design cooling and heat‑recovery well, you can cut emissions and support a cluster of digital jobs. The trade‑offs are real: grid capacity, water use and noise must be assessed openly.

For learners, this is a live case study in how place‑based growth can link energy, jobs and skills. Construction would create short‑term work; operating energy systems and digital facilities needs technicians, electricians, coders, control‑room staff and safety professionals. West Cumbria has deep nuclear expertise, and a plan like this can show how that experience translates into new roles for the next generation.

The NDA frames this as part of its wider mission: clean up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites and free land for reuse. It also invests around £15 million each year in social and economic projects near its sites to support long‑lasting change, as set out in the same GOV.UK notice.

What happens next? BEC now prepares the technical studies, design options and a timetable. Expect rounds of stakeholder workshops and a public consultation before any planning applications. This £1 million funds the thinking stage, not construction. It is sensible to ask for transparent evidence on carbon savings, grid impacts, costs and who benefits locally before shovels hit the ground.

As with any press release, treat today’s promises as a starting point. The case for new nuclear in West Cumbria will rest on the masterplan’s evidence, the regulator’s view and whether communities feel heard. If you live, study or teach in the area, get involved when the consultation opens; good plans improve when local knowledge is in the room.