Mike Graham, Prospect National Secretary, said: “This is fantastic news for West Cumbria. It will mean long-term jobs and help to secure the future of the Energy Coast Initiative.

“The building of new nuclear power stations will create many hundreds of construction jobs in the near future, with massive positive impact on the local economy. In the longer term it will mean thousands of long-term, high-value and skilled jobs for West Cumbria, helping the region become a world leader in nuclear technology.

“These are jobs for apprentices, graduates and future generations of West Cumbria’s young people. Prospect very much welcomes this announcement.”

Both the sites for which RWE npower has options are currently farmland, one in mid-Copeland near Sellafield, and the other in south Copeland in the Millom area.

Prospect estimates that each new nuclear power station built in the UK will create 500-600 permanent jobs.

Prospect represents 15,000 engineers and scientists in the nuclear industry.