KNUTSFORD is set to benefit from a jobs boost after it was announced that a town business will play a key role in building the UK’s new nuclear power plant.

Nuclear engineering firm AMEC, based at Booths Park in Knutsford, is one of the key partners in EDF’s nuclear new build programme – the first of its kind in the country in almost 20 years.

Earlier this week, it was announced the Government and EDF Energy reached a commercial agreement on the key terms of a proposed investment contract for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset.

Following the news of the deal, AMEC said it expects to create up to 300 jobs in the north west before the building programme ends with a ‘fair portion’ of the vacancies to be allocated to the Knutsford office.

Frank Stokes, of AMEC, said: “We currently have well over 100 people working on the UK new build programme in both the UK and France, and we expect this figure to increase significantly as the programme develops.”

As well as creating jobs at its Knutsford office, AMEC’s Birchwood base in Warrington will also benefit from the job boost.

Frank added: “AMEC looks forward to continuing its role in EDF’s nuclear new build programme, providing project and engineering support both in the UK and France.

“As a global nuclear engineering company, with a history in the industry stretching back almost 60 years, AMEC will play a key role in helping ensure that this programme comes to fruition.”

The Hinkley Point C plant will be the first new nuclear power station to be built since Sizewell B, which started generating electricity in 1995.

It will begin the process of replacing the existing fleet of nuclear stations, most of which are due to close in the 2020s.

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