Date: Tue 6th July, 2010
Venue: The Centre, Birchwood Park, Warrington, WA3 6YN
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New-build nuclear facilities are a vital growth sector for the North West, but their development could be hampered by the changes in regional governance, Manchester Metropolitan University vice-chancellor John Brooks said yesterday.
Brooks said: “The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) would have led on this and there are uncertainties over how the local economic partnerships will divide the region. In nuclear more than other sectors, there’s a lot to gain from really strong partnership working.”
Speaking at Insider’s Warrington breakfast at Birchwood Park, Brooks said there is “frustration” that the winding-down of the NWDA could hamper attempts to give the North West’s nuclear sector – the former BNFL Warrington cluster, plus existing and intended power operations in Cumbria and Lancashire, some overarching strategic guidance.
But the panel was unsure that Warrington would benefit most by throwing in its lot with Manchester, where the city leadership has, over the last year, put in place the foundations for a city region government-in-waiting. Jonathan Walsh, managing director of MEPC Birchwood Park, said Warrington has to look after number one: “Manchester always looks after Manchester. We live in a competitive world and being a smaller part of Manchester’s story would not serve us well.”
Broadening the argument, Andy Elsden, strategy and planning director of National Nuclear Laboratory, said: “Really what makes more sense is for the North West to look at linking up with Leeds and Sheffield in developing nuclear opportunities, because we still lag behind in what is a global market with massive opportunities.”
Because nuclear is now accepted as part of the UK’s energy future. Walsh said: “MEPC bought the park 12 years ago and for ten years of that, the nuclear presence was being constantly reduced. But the whole conception of nuclear has changed. In the last year we’ve seen Rolls-Royce locate their new nuclear operation here, and there are probably 25 companies employing 1,000 people here on the park.”
Are the skills here to convince the big beasts of global power that the North West can serve them well? Brooks said: “Graduate employment follows the economy – there’s been a massive downturn in construction, while for the first time in 20 years architectural students are not finding jobs. But there is increased interest in science and engineering.”
Carsten Kressel of regeneration body Warrington & Co added: “There are so many established networks of people that used to be at BNFL or one of its various offshoots, it is an invaluable resource.”
