Understand
Plans for £15bn rebuild of AWE Aldermaston nuclear factory set for submission
Overview
Plans for a £15bn hi-tech rebuild of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston, Berkshire, are expected to be submitted to West Berkshire Council in late 2026. The major long-term construction programme centres on the Future Materials Campus to replace aging 1950s-1970s facilities and support the UK's Astraea nuclear warhead programme. The initiative forms part of a wider £15bn Government investment into the UK nuclear warhead enterprise, aiming to concentrate operations at Aldermaston, support approximately 9,000 existing jobs, and create new roles.
Key points
- An outline planning application for the £15bn rebuild of AWE Aldermaston is expected to be submitted to West Berkshire Council in late 2026.
- The central development is the Future Materials Campus, designed to replace aging facilities built between the 1950s and 1970s.
- The project supports the UK's next-generation Astraea nuclear warhead programme and the full lifecycle of the country's nuclear deterrent.
- Plans also include a new Hydrodynamics Research Facility and a 10-year, up to £900m framework for supporting infrastructure.
- The investment secures around 9,000 jobs at the site, alongside more than 1,500 new jobs created over the preceding year.
- AWE has a long-term intention to concentrate all operations at Aldermaston, following the closure of its Cardiff component factory and withdrawal from Foulness.