ILIOS, a consortium led by a Kier Nuvia joint venture with AECOM, architects AL_A and Turner & Townsend providing specialist support, has been appointed by UK Fusion Energy to deliver the initial three-year, £200m phase of the STEP fusion programme.

The work will cover the design and construction of a prototype fusion power plant in the Midlands and sits within a broader programme with prospective future opportunities worth up to £10bn.

Backed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, STEP is the UK's flagship fusion initiative, intended to provide a sustainable, low-carbon energy source for everyday use. The expertise of the construction partner is expected to support the government's ambitions to realise the long-term potential of fusion energy.

The programme is led by UK Fusion Energy (formerly UK Industrial Fusion Solutions), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), and targets delivery of a commercially viable fusion power plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, by 2040.

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The consortium will combine its industry-leading capabilities with UK Fusion Energy to create a first-of-a-kind national energy project and progress the vision for West Burton as a world-leading prototype fusion energy site.

ILIOS brings extensive experience spanning major national infrastructure, high-hazard civil engineering, nuclear sector delivery, complex scientific and energy facilities, large programme and cost management, and world-class design for innovation environments.

Under the appointment, ILIOS will be responsible for the design and build of all buildings, infrastructure and facilities on the STEP site, as well as supporting the constructability and interfaces of the wider power plant.

Activities will include site management, detailed design, construction, programme planning, supply chain management, progress monitoring, project controls and constructability assurance, with full coordination among stakeholders and compliance with all relevant requirements and standards.

At peak, construction at West Burton is expected to support up to 8,000 onsite jobs, creating opportunities for local people and businesses, expanding apprenticeships and skills, and underpinning long-term economic growth.

Simon Matthews, Programme Director for ILIOS said: "This is a significant milestone in the UK's transition to clean energy. Following an extensive and collaborative procurement stage, we are proud to be selected as construction partner for the STEP programme and to be part of this innovative and transformative chapter in energy supply. Through our involvement on the STEP programme, we will help advance the UK’s future energy resilience and decarbonisation ambitions, supporting economic and regional growth, high-quality jobs and the development of a long-term, UK-based, fusion supply chain."