This is what the new nuclear power station at Moorside will look like.

The artist's impression has been produced by NuGen, the company behind the project, as it prepares to launch a second round of public consultations.

The image shows the three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, which will have a combined output of 3.6GW – enough to power 6m homes and supply 7.5 per cent of the UK's electricity needs.

NuGen is expected to give the final go ahead in 2018. Construction will start in 2020 and all three reactors should be on stream by 2026.

Up to 6,000 people will be working on the site, immediately north and west of Sellafield, at any one time.

NuGen has released the image as it announces details of 28 exhibition events across Cumbria as the second stage of a public consultation.

The dates and venues will be publicised through newspaper and radio adverts and it will be posting the Moorside Have Your Say newsletter to households close to sites that are part of the Moorside project next week.

NuGen’s planning lead in Cumbria, Fergus McMorrow, said: “The first of the 28 events will be held in Whitehaven on May 14 and over the next 11 weeks we will move around the county, from Carlisle to Barrow.

“It is extremely important that everyone gets an opportunity to come and have their say about the Moorside Project.”

In addition to proposals for the power station, the project includes worker accommodation campuses in Mirehouse, Egremont and Corkickle, rail and road improvements and developments at the Port of Workington.

Mr McMorrow added: “This consultation is the second of two public consultations.

“The first took place over 10 weeks from May 2015 and we welcomed over 1,800 people through the doors of our events.

“The second stage is an opportunity for the public to see how the project has developed, taking into account the feedback we received last year.”

NuGen’s exhibition at Whitehaven Civic Hall will be open from 10am to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays throughout the consultation period.


More information: www.nugenconsultation.com