Jacobs will conduct environmental assessments for the Oldbury site in the UK.

Great British Energy - Nuclear has chosen the US company Jacobs to create environmental baseline data for the Oldbury site, which is designated for new nuclear capacity in the UK, with AtkinsRéalis and AECOM serving as subconsultants.

Simon Roddy, CEO of Great British Energy - Nuclear, stated: "In our efforts to prepare Oldbury for nuclear development, it is essential that we enhance our understanding of the site through various projects, including ground investigations and archaeological surveys. I am happy to have Jacobs and their partners join the team to increase our knowledge of Oldbury through environmental assessments, which will be crucial for future planning decisions."

Jacobs commented that its project, alongside a multidisciplinary team comprising AtkinsRéalis and AECOM, will encompass assessments of both terrestrial and marine environments, along with environmental assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessment, and related activities to guide future planning, design, and permitting choices.

Richard Sanderson, Executive Vice President at Jacobs, remarked: "Enhancing the UK's energy security and promoting lower-carbon energy requires expedited development of civil nuclear projects. Jacobs has been involved in some of the most intricate nuclear initiatives in the UK and worldwide, supporting all phases from initial development to execution. We are bringing that experience to Great British Energy – Nuclear at Oldbury, helping establish the environmental groundwork necessary for the long-term success of the project."

Background

The UK government aims to increase nuclear energy capacity to 24 GW by 2050, incorporating both gigawatt and small modular reactors (SMRs) as essential components of its strategy. In 2024, an agreement was reached to acquire the Hitachi-owned sites for new nuclear projects at Wylfa in North Wales and Oldbury-on-Severn in Southwest England. Wylfa has since been designated to host the UK's first small modular reactor plant.

The Oldbury site, located on the banks of the River Severn, north of Bristol in Southwest England, is situated next to a Magnox plant where two units operated from 1967 and 1968 until 2011 and 2012. It has previously been considered as a potential site for three AP1000 reactors, two EPR reactors, and two or three UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, and has also been deemed suitable for small modular reactors.

Jacobs, based in Dallas, Texas, employs over 6,000 people in the UK across 15 offices and 35 additional locations. The company is actively involved in ongoing UK nuclear projects at Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and Sellafield.