Doncaster-Sheffield Airport: Holtec selects Doncaster’s GatewayEast as home of new UK factory
Holtec Britain, a company which specialises in small modular reactors (SMRs), has selected GatewayEast, next to Doncaster-Sheffield Airport, as the preferred location for its planned new UK factory.
The company is now entering detailed negotiations with the developer, Peel Land.
The statement continued: “The landmark decision has been widely welcomed by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, local Labour MP Lee Pitcher, and industry leads.
“Holtec’s decision also comes weeks after the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed £30m to fund the reopening of the airport. Since it closed in 2022, local politicians and businesses have campaigned to reopen it to drive growth across the region.
“After evaluating 13 regions across the UK - Holtec – who have been working in the UK for nearly 30 years – chose South Yorkshire as its base to localise production in the region.”
Gareth Thomas, Director at Holtec Britain, said: “In Doncaster, Holtec’s plans for a new advanced manufacturing facility will create a new industrial renaissance for the nation.
"We are delivering tangible wins for the British economy - thousands of homegrown jobs, foreign direct investment, a new export market, the re-industrialisation of South Yorkshire, cementing US, UK, Korean and Japanese relations through our partners - all while lowering bills, and powering the economy through clean energy.”
“With the reopening of Doncaster-Sheffield airport, we’re excited about the potential this site has to offer. Holtec is now finalising the factory business plan to support its Final Investment Decision.”
“We are proud to back Britain’s industrial base working with trade unions and UK industry partners.”
Stephen Wild Managing Director, Peel Land, said: “Today’s announcement by Holtec, confirming GatewayEast as their preferred location for future UK investment marks a pivotal milestone in driving forward South Yorkshire's Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone at GatewayEast, accelerating the delivery of high value jobs in Doncaster at the Innovation Quarter (IQ) site. We look forward to working alongside Holtec, City of Doncaster Council, SYMCA and wider partners to drive forward delivery in this strategically important location.”
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor said: “In South Yorkshire, we’re building on hundreds of years of innovation and engineering heritage to create world leading facilities, skills and expertise; assets that will power the clean energy transition in the UK and beyond.”