Plans for Rolls Royce factory at Scotch Corner 'in doubt'

In 2022, the manufacturer shortlisted land at Scotch Corner, next to the A1(M), for a site for its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme, set up to increase the availability of low-cost, clean energy.

However, doubts have now been expressed about the scheme after the company said it is “exploring other channels” for factories and manufacturing options.

An overview of the Scotch Corner Development site (Image: PLANNING) The advanced manufacturing facility could have meant a £200m investment for the region, and brought about 300 jobs.

This week, a spokesperson for Rolls Royce said that the “criteria had changed” and that building a factory at Scotch Corner right now wouldn’t be in its interests.

A Rolls Royce SMR spokesperson said: “We’ve had a couple of governments since the initial announcement about Scotch Corner, and the pace needed to progress has been curtailed somewhat.

“We’ve gone in a different direction, and while we’re still building UK factories, we’ve identified other sites.”

The company said it might “return to the plans in the future” – but it would be “unfair” to still include Scotch Corner on its shortlisted site plans.

The spokesperson added: “We’re going to look to the supply chain for manufacturing and continue with this.

Here is what was initial planned for the Scotch Corner Development site (Image: PLANNING) “We might revisit plans in the future, but since it was first announced about Scotch Corner, our criteria has changed.”

The news comes after reports suggested that Rolls Royce is closing in on trying to build two mini-nuclear reactor plants in Sweden and the Netherlands, while also opening a new testing facility in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in May this year.

A Rolls Royce Factory in the UK (Image: PA MEDIA) The proposed 23,000 square metre factory building had formed part of the wider Scotch Corner development, which is expected to include a TV and film production facility, as well as the Scotch Corner Designer Village and Garden Centre.

Delays in the building work for the Designer Village have pushed back the opening date of the first phase to March 2026.

A Rolls Royce worker (Image: PA MEDIA) Following the comments from Rolls Royce, Councillor Angus Thompson, who covers the North Richmondshire division, said that the company had “all but pulled out of the site”.

He has previously expressed concerns about the overall Scotch Corner development, citing traffic and safety worries.