Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has appointed specialist consultancies WSP and Mott MacDonald to deliver the environmental services and permitting works for the small modular reactor (SMR) programme at Wylfa on Anglesey. The five-year environmental services and permitting appointments are valued at up to £25m ($34m) across the programme.
The appointment will support a comprehensive programme of environmental assessments, regulatory engagement, and permitting activities. These are essential steps in preparing the Wylfa site for construction and ensuring that planning can be secured for the site. Wylfa was selected by the UK Government in November 2025 as the lead site for the SMR fleet after years of uncertainty following the collapse of a bid to build a large-scale nuclear plant on the island. The development is expected to create thousands of jobs during the construction phase and a few hundred jobs once operational.
“Ensuring that the Wylfa project progresses on a strong environmental and regulatory foundation is essential,” said Kenny Douglas, DevCo Development Director at GBE-N. “This work is a major step forward in understanding the site, protecting the local environment and ensuring that our project is delivered responsibly and transparently.”
He added: “GBE-N is committed to ensuring that local voices continue to be heard as the programme evolves and that lasting economic and social benefits are delivered for the region. WSP and Mott MacDonald bring extensive expertise and will help us navigate the complex permissions landscape with confidence, pace and rigour.”
Lucy Morton, Environment, Nature & Consents Development Director at Mott MacDonald, said: “By combining our significant technical excellence with a collaborative approach, we’ll help GBE-N secure the required consents and set a benchmark for responsible, low-carbon energy development, whilst ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded from concept through delivery.”
Stuart McLaren, Nuclear & Energy Sector Director at WSP, commented: “Moving from first-of-a-kind to fleet at pace, without compromising safety, quality or environmental standards, is critical to success. Our role is to help ensure the programme is consentable and constructable, enabling timely, well-evidenced permissions that de-risk the critical path and provide delivery certainty as the programme matures, helping GBE-N turn ambition into delivery.”
Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned engineering, management and development consultancy, with more than 20,000 people in over 50 countries. WSP is a leading professional services firms, uniting engineering, advisory and science-based expertise
