An address from the Prime Minister at the Conservative Party Conference this week could prove the catalyst for Cumbria’s clean energy hopes — but some feel that the commitment has been a long time coming.

PM Boris Johnson will address the Conservative Party Conference this week and it is understood he will commit to investment in renewables and nuclear energy, with all of Britain's electricity produced from those sources by 2035.

Those involved in plans for a Green Energy Hub at Moorside, a site neighbouring Sellafield, have been waiting for the UK Government to fully commit to nuclear power.

It has been said that with the right economic culture around clean energy production, companies such as Rolls Royce and EDF Energy are more likely to invest in new nuclear sites such as Moorside and Sizewell C.

Rolls Royce is the leading party in the UK SMR Consortium which has interest in siting the reactors at Moorside.

SMRs are used to produce carbon-free electricity using nuclear fission and are viewed as the key to a net-zero future.

The news comes as Copeland Borough Council’s executive prepares to discuss its involvement in plans for a Geological Disposal Facility.

Councillor David Moore, portfolio holder for nuclear and corporate services said: “It’ll be a massive step forward.”

He said that as well as attracting investors like EDF, the announcement has to make the carbon free energy affordable to the tax payer.

“It’s a blend we’re looking for, that blend of Government funding and the right environment for the private sector to come forward and invest.”

The next round of funding for nuclear is likely to support plans for an SMR park at the Sizewell C site in Suffolk. However, parties interested in plans for Moorside view it as an opportunity to show the developments can be delivered.

Cllr Moore said Sizewell’s success could see the development begin at Moorside two years later.

"Carbon free 2035 has to require that investment now because the running period is a long time. The running period of getting to the planning process and building this is not short term.

"We're probably looking realistically at decades so it's got to happen now and now is the time for that investment. We're stood here waiting ready. We've got that prospectus, we've got the skills and workforce, we've got that willing community."

Labour councillor Joseph Ghayouba, who is also on the Strategic Nuclear and Energy Board, said: "It's the promise of jam tomorrow. Announcements are all well good, but for the people in the nuclear industry, announcements don't do anything. For us we want to see actual delivery.

"The people of Copeland deserve better than that, we really need the Government to deliver for this area. It feels like Groundhog Day."