SOSE purchase land at Chapelcross to help unlock site’s potential

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) have completed the purchase of an area of land adjacent to Chapelcross.

The region’s economic and community development agency made the purchase of the 6.5 hectare section of Zone Three beside Chapelcross in November 2023, with a series of surveys and assessments now underway. 

Working with various partners, SOSE will create serviced plots on the land, with the aim of generating jobs and economic activity in the shorter term. This development will support Chapelcross Programme’s overall aim of building a new economy based on green energy production.

It is expected the surveys and assessments will be completed in spring 2024, alongside utility connections for the purchased site. 

The overall Chapelcross Programme includes a number of partners including Dumfries & Galloway Council, Nuclear Restoration Services (formerly named Magnox), Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Scottish Enterprise, SOSE and Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

Chapelcross is a former nuclear power plant near Annan which is over 210 hectares in size. Decommissioning work at Chapelcross started in 2004. 

About Chapelcross Programme

·                The Chapelcross Programme provides the opportunity to build a new economy based on green energy production.

·                It will support the creation of significant local supply chain opportunities and high-value jobs.

·                Through the Programme, there will be opportunities for skills development and knowledge exchange creating a powerful force for change in the local economy, the Borderlands and Scotland.

·                It will bring together both the public and private sector creating strong allies to deliver the full potential of the Chapelcross site.

·                It will be a significant contributor to the 2045 Net Zero ambitions of Scotland and support Dumfries and Galloway’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2025.

·                Magnox and NDA are committed to safely and securely decommissioning the site.

·                More information about the CX programme is available here.