A SITE neighbouring Sellafield has been mentioned by a frontbench MP as one of eight designated nuclear sites set for development.

Last week, as the Government unveiled its Energy Security Strategy, Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng posted a map of the UK online which marks out the eight sites set for new nuclear in the future.

READ MORE: Copeland MP to discuss SMR hopes with council bosses

Moorside in Copeland was amongst the locations mentioned as well as Wylfa, Hartlepool, Sizewell and Hinkley.

Mr Kwarteng, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said: "To meet our new 24 Gigawatt target, we're going to progress up to 8 more reactors this decade.

The Government's energy strategy set out plans to serve 25 per cent of the UK's electricity demand through low carbon nuclear solutions by 2050.

"Large-scale nuclear is not a quick fix, but a vital investment in our country's energy independence."

David Moore, Copeland Council’s portfolio holder for nuclear and corporate services said that the Government's commitment to develop energy production solutations at Moorside is welcome.

He said: "Moorside is one of the recognised sites what they're not saying is what might be on those sites."

Copeland has registered an interest in siting small modular reactors at Moorside as well as advanced modular reactors, the site is also on the shortlist in a competition to host a groundbreaking nuclear fusion reactor.

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Councillor Moore said: "Moorside's the only one on that list currently in for fusion, and the SMRs and the newbuild. We know we're going to get something."

It is a positive time for those involved in bringing Moorside back into use. Cllr Moore said that the Government's Energy Security Strategy was a promising step forward for the industry with assurances that nuclear is "at the heart of the agenda."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison will meet with Copeland Borough Council and officials from BEIS later this month.

Cllr Moore said: "The Government's got our nuclear prospectus. People in Government are really clear about our ambitions.

"The one thing we've always been confident of is we'll know about fusion this year. Once we're clear around the large scale, you've got a feel for the site, you can look at what you develop around it."