MPs and industry from SW and Wales gather to #STEPupforSevern as decision expected

With a decision expected in the coming weeks, MPs, Local Leaders and businesses have gathered in Westminster to lobby the government about why the Western Gateway’s Severn Edge bid is the best possible option for the UK’s first prototype fusion plant.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production programme (STEP) is the national project to develop a prototype energy plant to prove the commercial viability of fusion.  Fusion has been described as having the potential to become the “ultimate low carbon energy” source, recreating the reaction that takes place within the sun.

Severn Edge spans two sites in South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire next to the M4 bridge to Wales.  The bid is one of the final five sites being considered by government and if successful would support over 30,000 jobs, levelling up communities in England and Wales and creating an extra £3.5 billion of output for the economy.   

Already the bid has received support from industry, four of the most research intensive universities in the UK, businesses, political leaders and the community.

The event is part of the ‘#STEPUpForSevern’ campaign which seeks to drum up support for the site in anticipation of an impending decision from government. 

The Western Gateway partnership, which represents the economic powerhouse for South Wales and Western England, is leading the bid and the ‘#STEPUpForSevern’ campaign to bring fusion to Severn Edge.

Siobhan Baillie, MP for Stroud which includes part of the Severn Edge site, said: “We know that the Severn Edge site is the best possible option for the UK’s STEP Programme, providing access to the necessary expert supply chains that feed into Hinkley C and an operational, purpose-built Skills and Science Park ready to provide the engineering apprentices of tomorrow. We have an opportunity to be a world leading science superpower with fusion and our site will ensure immediate delivery to make this possible.

“Local communities, business and MPs on both sides of the Severn have signed up to show their support to our bid which would provide transformational opportunities for the next generation. Stroud constituency school children would grow up knowing they can work on planet saving technology. Severn Edge is the right home for STEP and we hope that Ministers will back our bid.”

After gathering outside the Houses of Commons, the group marched to the offices of the Business Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, who is responsible for making the decision, to deliver a collective letter of support for the Western Gateway’s Severn Edge bid.

Katherine Bennett CBE, Chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, said: “Our Severn Edge site provides the best access to top expertise to ensure STEP makes the UK a world leader in developing Fusion whilst also being a vital flagship opportunity for local communities.  The site is within a short commute of many high priority levelling up areas on both sides of the Severn which could be transformed by the success of our bid.

“Our Western Gateway Partnership is working to level up communities on both sides of the border, create a further £34 billion for the economy and develop the UK’s first Green Energy Super Cluster. We are ready to use the great expertise we have in both England and Wales to power our transition to Net Zero and STEP is the perfect launch pad!”

More information about the #STEPUpForSevern campaign is available on the Western Gateway website: www.western-gateway.co.uk/fusion-western-gateway