A deal to use Chinese nuclear technology and thousands of local workers to build a new power station at Bradwell has been agreed.

Power company EDF Energy last week signed the heads of terms with China General Nuclear Power Corporation for “Bradwell B”, a greenfield site next to the former station.

The Chinese company will provide two thirds of the development costs and hope to begin construction by 2023.

Up to 25,000 jobs will be created during construction, although it is unclear how many vacancies will be filled by local residents.

The agreement will take at least five years to clear planning hurdles and formed part of a multi-billion pound deal involving two more plants at Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Stephen Walls, EDF deputy director of project development, said: “Today is an important step for the development of a new power station at Bradwell.

“The agreement today between EDF and CGNN serves quite a wide partnership to develop new nuclear power at Sizewell and Bradwell, it’s the beginning of a story for Bradwell.

“For Hinkley and Sizewell, we think there will be about 25,000 construction jobs within the construction period and 1,000 permanent jobs after.

“The numbers will be comparable with that.”