This is the first glimpse of what the new £10 billion Moorside nuclear power station could look like.

NuGen - the firm behind the plans for Moorside - has published the artist's impression ahead of 28 public events being held across the county to give people the chance to have their say.

Plans for the three-reactor site on land next to Sellafield - and its associated accommodation and transport links - are likely to have widespread impacts.

A number of homes and land are at risk of compulsory purchase as part of NuGen's plans to widen the A595.

Residents of areas including Parton, Hensingham and Thornhill could be affected by this scheme.

Fergus McMorrow, NuGen's planning lead in Cumbria, said: "It is extremely important that everyone gets an opportunity to come and have their say.

“This consultation is the second of two public consultations. The first took place over 10 weeks from May 2015 and we welcomed over 1,800 people through the doors of our events. 

"The second stage is an opportunity for the public to see how the project has developed, taking into account the feedback that we received last year.”

The consultation has come under fire however from campaign group Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (Core), which claims the absence of details surrounding the plant's seabed cooling tunnels and marine facilities will leave the public "shortchanged". 

Core spokesman Martin Forwood is urging NuGen to extend its consultation period beyond its scheduled July 30 end date to allow this information to be included. 

Mr Forwood said: "Running the consultation without detailed offshore cooling system information is no better than submitting a plan for a new house that doesn’t show the external mains water, drainage and sewage systems. 

"To invite people to ‘have your say’ on a half-baked plan makes a mockery of the consultation and will undermine public confidence. Tempting consultees with an artist’s fairytale impression of what Moorside will look like does nothing to compensate for short-changing consultees on crucial details."

NuGen is hosting 28 public drop-in sessions during its 11-week consultation period, beginning at Moorside Information Centre in Whitehaven Civic Hall on May 14. This venue is then open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm for the duration of the consultation.

NuGen will invite the public to comment on its proposals between 10am and 4pm at: 

May 31 – Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick 

June 8 – Westlakes Science Park

June 9 – Community Centre, Distington 

June 21 – Town Hall, Cockermouth 

June 22 – St Mark’s Methodist Church, Maryport 

July 5 – Bridge Centre, Workington 

July 6 – Energus, Lillyhall 

The firm hopes construction will begin in 2020 and the first reactor would go on stream four years later. A total of 21,000 jobs will be created during the lifetime of the plant.