UK plans to slash red tape in ‘radical reset’ for nuclear projects
The UK government aims to modernise regulation around nuclear power in line with the findings of the independent Nuclear Taskforce, which has recommend a ‘once-in-a-generation’ reform for nuclear power generation.
In its first report published on Monday 11 August, the taskforce recommended a ‘radical reset’ to speed up the development of vital nuclear projects and realise the government’s plan to deliver a golden age of nuclear power in Britain.
This announcement comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the government would reduce the administrative cost of regulation by 25%.
Commissioned by the government earlier this year and led by John Fingleton, the taskforce said the current bureaucracy around nuclear projects is “unnecessarily slow, inefficient and costly”.
Once-in-a-generation reform is needed to address these issues, the taskforce said, which include overly complex regulatory processes, risk-averse culture that prioritises bureaucracy, and outdated planning frameworks that do not account for technologies such as small modular reactors.
Recommendations that will be included in the final report are expected to focus on issues such as standardisation across internal regulators, tackling the culture of risk aversion around nuclear projects, and maintaining a depth and range of expertise in the workforce.
“Nuclear energy is safe and reliable and can contribute to net zero goals. It is also vital to the UK’s strategic deterrent. However, over recent decades, nuclear regulation has become more complex and costly without always delivering commensurate safety and environmental benefits,” Fingleton said.
“Our interim report identifies our main concerns with the current system which we think is not fit for purpose.”
“With a view to recommending a once-in-a-generation reset, we now invite views from interested parties on what solutions will better enable the UK to achieve the huge benefits nuclear power offers.”
As a first step following the publication of the interim report, the government said it would work with the taskforce to prioritise quick, effective and safe delivery of nuclear programmes.
“For too long, big British infrastructure projects have been held back by needless bureaucracy,” Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said.
“It’s time for a new approach to getting nuclear projects off the ground more quickly, and at a lower cost.”
“We look forward to working with the expert taskforce to modernise outdated regulations so we can unlock growth, jobs and energy security for the British people,” Fahnbulleh added.
