Overhaul of nuclear system to speed up building and cut costs - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Plan to overhaul nuclear system will speed up building, strengthen national and energy security, and cut costs.
- Government overhauls nuclear planning and regulation to deliver golden age of nuclear and boost UK energy sovereignty
- streamlining regulation to simplify the building of new nuclear projects whilst ensuring better environmental outcomes
- drive for clean power essential to get the UK off dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and onto clean homegrown power controlled in Britain
The government is today outlining its comprehensive plans to speed up nuclear delivery after the independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce led by John Fingleton found an “overly complex” and “bureaucratic” system that favoured process over safe outcomes has held back the industry. The government is delivering reforms in a way that produces a win-win for building critical infrastructure while protecting nature and the environment.
The government is implementing the review’s recommendations, with all reforms expected to be completed by the end of 2027. These reforms could help speed up other types of infrastructure, such as looking at whether reforms to judicial reviews could apply to other major planning regimes.
The core of the plan is a move towards smarter regulation: proportionate, focused on real risk, rooted in evidence, and designed to effectively protect nature and biodiversity. This plan will support safe, cost effective, and rapid delivery across the entire civil and defence nuclear enterprise. The plan is expected to reduce the cost and timeframe of delivering new civil and defence nuclear projects, without compromising safety and environmental protections.