Anglesey secures funding for regeneration plan

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has allocated £495,000 to support the North Anglesey Economic Regeneration Plan, created in response to Hitachi’s decision to halt work at the £20bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station in January.

The funding will contribute to a package of measures aimed at boosting business activity, the supply chain and employment, increasing tourism, improving transport and infrastructure and the High Street.

Anglesey County Council’s economic development team drew up the North Anglesey Economic Regeneration Plan, after plans for Wylfa Newydd were postponed and the closure of the Rehau factory in Amlwch was announced. The plan will also respond to the impacts of the decommissioning of the Wylfa Power Station.

Anglesey Council leader, Cllr Llinos Medi said: “As an authority, we’ve worked with local communities and stakeholders to respond to the challenges facing North Anglesey and focus our efforts on supporting those affected. This plan was shaped by local residents and businesses as part of major consultation process.

“The significant funding provided by the NDA is welcomed and will enable us to progress some of the key priorities that have been identified locally to help regenerate North Anglesey.”

Major projects and economic development portfolio holder, Cllr Carwyn Jones, stressed that the nuclear sector was still important to economic growth in Anglesey.

“Anglesey has previously benefitted from NDA funding and I can’t emphasise enough how important this socio-economic support is during such an uncertain time, particularly for North Anglesey. This funding will now enable us to progress some of the key priorities that have been identified locally to help regenerate North Anglesey.

“We still believe that the nuclear sector has an important role to play in the UK’s future energy mix and that both Anglesey and the wider North Wales region provides the right conditions for development.”

The UK Government will publish its white paper on the proposed future funding model for nuclear build later this summer.