Boris Johnson is planning to build “miniature” nuclear reactors in Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire in a £500m scheme.

The government gave a boost to the nuclear sector last month when it revealed plans to invest up to £18m in the creation of “mini nuclear power stations”.

Now a consortium led by Rolls-Royce is proposing to build prototype “small modular reactors”, known as SMRs, in an investment with the government of £500m. The initial £18m will allow Rolls-Royce to develop the design of the reactors.

“These new mini nuclear reactors would be concentrated across the north — and plans are in motion to place them in the Sheffield city region, Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire,” a government source said. “Nuclear is clean and a way of