MINISTERS say reforms will cut costs and strengthen energy security, but critics warn projects remain expensive and slow to build
The UK government has announced a major overhaul of the country’s nuclear planning and regulatory system aimed at speeding up the construction of new reactors, reducing costs and strengthening national energy security.
The reforms follow an independent review led by John Fingleton, which concluded that the current regulatory framework is overly complex and bureaucratic, slowing the delivery of nuclear infrastructure.
Ministers say the changes will simplify regulation while maintaining safety and environmental protections, with all recommendations expected to be implemented by the end of 2027.
The government argues that expanding nuclear energy will help reduce Britain’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and support the transition to low-carbon electricity.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The current conflict in the Middle East shows why we must move further and faster to build the clean energy system our country needs.
“A crucial part of this is ensuring that we speed up the building of infrastructure in a way that reduces costs while delivering better outcomes for nature.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said nuclear energy would play an important role in strengthening the UK’s economic resilience.
“To build national resilience, drive energy security and deliver economic growth, we need nuclear,” she said.
The government has already approved major nuclear projects including Sizewell C in Suffolk and the ongoing construction of Hinkley Point C in Somerset. Ministers are also backing plans for small modular reactors, with the first expected to be built at the former Wylfa nuclear site on Anglesey in North Wales.
Alongside the regulatory reforms, the government confirmed £65.6 million of funding for seven nuclear research programmes at universities across the UK.
Institutions involved include Bangor University and Swansea University, with the funding delivered through UK Research and Innovation and matched by industry partners.
The programme will also fund more than 500 doctoral students over four years to train the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers.
Research areas will include advanced reactor technologies, nuclear waste disposal, innovative fuels and materials, and technologies linked to national security.
However, environmental campaigners remain sceptical about the expansion of nuclear power.
Groups including Greenpeace UK have previously warned that nuclear plants are expensive and take many years to build, arguing that investment should instead focus on renewable energy such as wind and solar.
Large nuclear projects in the UK have also faced significant delays and rising costs. Hinkley Point C, currently under construction in Somerset, has seen its estimated completion date pushed back several times while projected costs have increased substantially.
Supporters of nuclear power argue that it provides a reliable source of low-carbon electricity that can operate regardless of weather conditions, helping to stabilise the energy system as more renewable power comes online.
The government says the wider nuclear sector could support around 65,000 jobs by 2030, including roles linked to the UK’s defence nuclear programme and the construction of new Dreadnought-class submarines.
The reforms are intended to make it easier to deliver both civil and defence nuclear projects while maintaining safety standards and environmental protections.
