ILIOS to build STEP fusion plant at West Burton

West Burton site awaits ILIOS and the arrival of STEP fusion construction

(Image courtesy of STEP Fusion)

ILIOS takes the helm as construction partner for STEP Fusion’s £200m West Burton redevelopment, pushing the UK prototype plant from research drawings into physical reality. Kier Group leads the consortium with Nuvia’s nuclear expertise, BAM Nuttall, AECOM, Turner & Townsend, and AL_A architecture. Their job covers early works through foundations by 2029, all under STEP direction for a spherical tokamak targeting 100MW and tritium breeding by 2040.

Paul Methven, UK Fusion Energy CEO, called it the pivot point. “This is the moment we move from research to delivery, setting a clear path to build the UK’s prototype fusion plant at West Burton.” Simon Matthews, ILIOS programme director, echoed the stakes. “This is a significant milestone in the UK’s transition to clean energy. We will help advance future energy resilience, supporting economic growth, high-quality jobs and a long-term UK-based fusion supply chain.”

The timing lands with DESNZ’s new Fusion Strategy, promising private capital and industry scale-up. West Burton, shuttered coal since 2023, now anchors the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster. Peak construction hits 8,000 on-site jobs, rippling through East Midlands supply chains that have logged 500+ UK suppliers already, 80% domestic. Geotech studies, biodiversity plans, and masterplanning sit ready. Super-X divertor validation from MAST-U and fusion steel progress give ILIOS proven physics to build on.

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