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Hitachi has brought the Horizon Nuclear Power project for 拢696m and appointed engineer Babcock to support the delivery of its new reactors.

The figure for the sale is higher than many commentators had expected.

The value of land and amount spent by its owners, German energy firms Npower and E.ON, developing the project was thought to be around 拢600m.

But many had expected Horizon to be sold for much less than that after the owners publically announced the intention to sell in March, with fears that the owners may even struggle to find a buyer.

Hiroaki Nakanishi, president of Hitachi, said: 鈥淭oday starts out 100 year commitment to the UK and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low-carbon and affordable energy supply.

鈥淲e look forward to sharing Hitachi鈥檚 corporate vision and nuclear business policy with the management and employees of Horizon and working harmoniously with UK companies and stakeholders for the delivery of this vital part of Britain鈥檚 national infrastructure and the creation of a strong UK nuclear power company.鈥�

Hitachi鈥檚 success may mean that it will take longer for construction work to start on its new nuclear plants at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury in Gloucestershire than had been planned because it has yet to get approval from the regulator for its reactor designs.

Both the reactor types designed by Areva and Westinghouse that had been planned for the sites under its German owners were already in the process of gaining this approval, which can take years.

Hitachi said it would immediately start the application process.

As well as signing a memorandum of understanding with Babcock the firm also signed one with Rolls Royce to help with the development of the plants.

Energy secretary Ed Davey hailed the decision, saying it is a 鈥渉uge vote of confidence鈥� in the government鈥檚  energy policy.

Davey told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning that he had not offered the company any guarantees about future energy prices to secure the investment. He said it was the UK鈥檚 overall energy strategy which attracted Hitachi.

He said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e basically told them our energy, with our electricity market reform which is designed to get the most affordable energy as well as low-carbon energy.

鈥淎nd so they know our policy; they know our policy of no public subsidy for new nuclear. And the fact that they invested 拢700m, or are investing 拢700m in new nuclear suggests there鈥檚 a huge vote of confidence in that regime.鈥�

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said the deal would see the construction of between four and six new nuclear plants to power up to 14 million homes over 60 years, with the creation of up to 6,000 jobs during construction at each site at Wylfa on Anglesey and Oldbury in Gloucestershire, with a further 1,000 permanent jobs at each site once operational.

DECC said about 60% of the value of the first plant was expected to be sourced from within the UK, and more for subsequent plants.  It said Hitachi plans to establish a module assembly facility in the UK.

Scot Parkhurst , energy director at engineer WSP said: 鈥淭his is long awaited good news - nuclear power plays an import role in supporting the UK鈥檚 energy mix and we need to push on with the programme to ensure we have energy security in the future. 

鈥淎lthough Hitachi will now need to go through the Generic Design Assessment for its plant technology,  which will delay the construction programme further, the acquisition should still  improve confidence in the UK nuclear new build market for both suppliers and investors.鈥�