Reacting to the announcement that EDF’s new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset has been given the go ahead, Jeremy Richards, head of JLL’s Bristol office says it’s great news for the regional economy:
“As well as bringing billions of pounds of investment and hundreds of new jobs and, Hinkley Point C will further underline the region’s established reputation for science and engineering.
We’ve already seen this, with a major letting in Gloucester earlier this year by Horizon Nuclear Power, just one of a growing number of commercial property deals in this sector. EDF and many of their suppliers have significant requirements for office space in the region as a result of this project.
“The build project alone, estimated to take almost a decade and said to be bigger than Heathrow’s terminal 5 – will deliver a huge boost to the region’s construction sector. Whilst it will undoubtedly pose short-term challenges in terms of labour supply, the sheer scale of the project should offer the reassurance the sector needs to invest in further recruitment.”
