Up to four sites for building new reactors will be put up for sale by EDF following its £12.5bn acquisition of British Energy, opening the way for other companies to share in the planned renaissance of nuclear power in the UK.

The French power group and British Energy on Wednesday announced the agreed takeover, at a price of 774p per share, or 700p plus contingent value rights – securities that pay out according to future electricity prices and the performance of British Energy’s power stations.