WSP and Mott MacDonald appointed to deliver Environmental Services and Permitting for Great British Energy - Nuclear

WSP, one of the world’s leading professional services firms, has been appointed alongside global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald, by Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) to provide specialist Environmental Services and Permitting support for the SMR programme at Wylfa, helping accelerate Britain’s transition to reliable, low-carbon energy.

Together, the five‑year Environmental Services and Permitting appointments are valued at up to £25 million across the programme.

Under the new appointments, WSP and Mott MacDonald will bring multidisciplinary expertise in environmental assessment, regulatory compliance, and permitting pathways, enabling timely, evidence-based decisions and robust approvals for this nationally significant nuclear project.

WSP will deliver the work in partnership with Mott MacDonald as part of a collaborative joint approach that draws on deep regulatory and infrastructure experience across both organisations. This includes WSP’s strong track record supporting UK nuclear new build projects over the past 15 years, reflecting its experience in environmental, permitting and major permissions advisory services for complex nuclear programmes.

Building on this platform, WSP and Mott MacDonald are bringing together a highly skilled team of environmental, planning and consenting specialists to help GBE-N confidently navigate the major permissions landscape at Wylfa - ensuring the programme benefits from proven expertise, seamless regulatory engagement and high‑quality delivery.

Stuart McLaren, Head of Nuclear and Energy Sector Director, WSP, commented:

“We’re proud to support Great British Energy - Nuclear in strengthening the UK’s energy security and accelerating decarbonisation. Moving from first-of-a-kind to fleet at pace, without compromising safety, quality or environmental standards, is critical to success. Our role is to help ensure the programme is consentable and constructable, enabling timely, well-evidenced permissions that de-risk the critical path and provide delivery certainty as the programme matures, helping GBE-N turn ambition into delivery.”

Lucy Morton, Environment, Nature and Consents Development Director, Mott MacDonald, said:

“We are delighted to continue supporting GBE-N, building on the environmental services we’ve been providing and bringing our deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and delivering integrated, end-to-end environmental solutions to major infrastructure programmes. By combining our significant technical excellence with a collaborative approach, we’ll help GBE-N secure the required consents and set a benchmark for responsible, low-carbon energy development, whilst ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded from concept through delivery.”

Kenny Douglas, DevCo Development Director, Great British Energy – Nuclear, said:

“Ensuring that our programme progresses on a strong environmental and regulatory foundation is critical to delivering the UK’s first fleet of SMRs. The support of WSP and Mott MacDonald brings the depth of expertise needed to navigate a complex permissions landscape with confidence, pace and rigour.”

This appointment builds on WSP’s existing work with GBE-N, including strategic advisory support for its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme. It reinforces WSP’s commitment to contributing to the UK’s next generation of low‑carbon energy infrastructure and applies the firm’s established nuclear environmental and permissions expertise in support of the GBE-N mission. It also leverages Mott MacDonald’s deep sector expertise and ability to apply insights from previous and current projects with GBE-N, including at Oldbury around the siting of SMRs.

About WSP

WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. With over 10,000 experts in the UK and Ireland and 75,000 globally, known as Visioneers, we pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, resources and industrial sectors. WSP is publicly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:WSP).

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned engineering, management and development consultancy, with more than 20,000 people in over 50 countries. We plan, design, deliver and maintain the transport, energy, water, buildings and wider infrastructure that is integral to people’s daily lives. Our core strength is using our expertise to overcome complex challenges for the benefit of our clients and the communities they serve.

Engineering. Management. Development.
mottmac.com

About Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N)

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) is the government delivery body dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies in the UK. As an arm’s-length body sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, GBE-N plays a crucial role in ensuring the UK’s energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. GBE-N focuses on fostering innovation, facilitating investment, and coordinating efforts across the nuclear industry to build a resilient and sustainable energy future.

Source Link: https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/news/2026/strengthening-uk-nuclear-energy-security