Warsaw-based developer SGE has submitted plans under the Government’s Advanced Nuclear Framework for a 4.2GW programme based on GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 reactor technology.

The privately-funded scheme would be Britain’s largest privately-led nuclear investment and could generate enough electricity to meet around 11% of the country’s demand, equivalent to almost eight million homes.

The delivery team includes GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon, Google Cloud, Fermi Development and Etara.

While the consortium has not named its preferred sites, the programme would start with a six-reactor station before two further multi-unit sites.

It said that using a repeatable fleet-build model would cut costs and shorten construction times.

Laing O’Rourke said it would apply its industrialised construction expertise and advanced manufacturing methods developed on major infrastructure and nuclear projects to improve safety, productivity and programme certainty.

The BWRX-300 design completed Step 2 of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment in December 2025 and is already under construction at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Canada.

SGE expects its proposal to enter the Advanced Nuclear Pipeline later this year, with site selection and negotiations over government support completed during the first half of 2027.

Major investment, licensing and site preparation could begin around a year later, with the first reactor targeted to enter commercial operation in 2034.