Trawsfynydd innovation hub inches forward
Ambition North Wales has approved an outline business case for an energy-focused business centre at the former nuclear power station site.
Seeking a funding allocation from the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal, which is delivered by Ambition North Wales, the plans for a Trawsfynydd Innovation, Business and Skills Centre are based around a 39,100 sq ft multi-use hub for business growth and skills development.
An allocation of £10m from the Growth Deal is the ask, with the rest of the required funding coming from other public sector sources.
The centre would provide office, lab, training, and collaboration spaces to support research, skills development, business growth, and innovation. It would represent the first phase of a wider plan for the Trawsfynydd site, which is seen as a strategic location within the Eryri Enterprise Zone.
To be led by local authority Cyngor Gwynedd, the overarching goal is to create long-term high‑value jobs linked to low‑carbon energy opportunities across nuclear decommissioning and emerging technologies.
Cllr Nia Jefferys, Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd, said: “The new Innovation, Business and Skills Centre will bring jobs and opportunities to people living in Meirionnydd, across Gwynedd and North Wales.
“Its unique location has close links to live decommissioning work, specialist supply chains and a highly skilled technical local workforce. I welcome this investment that will lead up to an additional £20.5m for the North Wales economy by 2036.”
The goal is for work on the Trawsfynydd Innovation, Business and Skills Centre to start on site in autumn 2027.
Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station produced power for more than 30 years, after being built in Snowdonia in the 1960s. The plant shut down in the 1990s over safety concerns and a need for expensive upgrades. The removal and storage of its mid-range radioactive waste completed in May this year.
Beyond the ambitions to create a business hub, work is ongoing to rework the rest of the site. As set out in May by Nuclear Restoration Services, the next phase of delivery is to reduce the height of the nuclear reactors by almost half, from 54m to 29m.
Costin is leading on what will be a £70m, four-year project, having been commissioned by decommissioning agency NRS last year.
With sign-off secured for the outline business case, the innovation centre now proceeds to full business case stage. The investment decision would then follow, subject to necessary planning consents.
Ambition North Wales is a corporate joint committee, made up of the six North Wales local authorities along with the Eryri National Park Authority. Business case approvals are the responsibility of ANW’s economic wellbeing sub-committee.
Why? The site is famously remote, and chosen partly for that very reason. How/Who is going to commute to a business centre?
By Owain Glyndwr
Owain is right this reads like an opportunity to get cash and work done rather than a chance to innovate. The level of specialist staff you would need to hire and house close to site would take probably 3 years after completing that’s it you could convince them at all.
By Anonymous
Possibly the land is cheap. They commuted during the decommissioning operation. Many judging by how well the car park was full.
The plan still has an SMR pencilled in as far as I am aware. Probably like development corporations that effectively run ports this one is seen as a centre of excellence for training and innovation. Milford Haven port has a similar approach so it appears and the land is owned / developed for that purpose. Similar to new town planning corporation but on a mini scale. Probably got the site and its how you use it. Well as long as it doesn’t get in the way of any SMR development. Like the other decommissioned nuclear site in Wales this one also has a Project Office and this one has taken them off in this direction. Like project offices for new hospitals it can be a lonely job if they don’t get the funding or project. One of those acorns. Pass on what they do at the Pembroke Dock innovation / business centre, but business seems to be thriving in the area down the water way and the green energy, tidal development, Milford Haven marina, business etc all in the ports land but I guess they have a bigger canvas to work with.
By Anonymous