Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the country’s nuclear regulatory and planning system.
The reforms aim to accelerate the construction of new nuclear projects, slash costs, and usher in what the government is calling a “golden age of nuclear” – all while maintaining rigorous safety and environmental standards.
The announcement, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Friday (13 March), comes as global tensions drive home the risks of relying on volatile fossil fuel markets.
Miliband is now positioning nuclear power as a cornerstone of the UK’s push for energy security, net zero emissions, and economic resilience.
“I am grateful to John Fingleton for his landmark review, and the government is today publishing our implementation plan to deliver his reforms,” Miliband said in an accompanying statement.
“As the current Middle East conflict shows, we need to go further and faster to build the clean energy we need to get off volatile fossil fuel markets and deliver energy security for our country.”
A complete overhaul
The changes stem from recommendations by the independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, led by former Office of Fair Trading chief John Fingleton.
The taskforce’s report, published late last year, described the existing system as “overly complex” and “bureaucratic,” one that prioritises process over safe, practical outcomes – contributing to the UK becoming one of the most expensive places in the world to build nuclear facilities.
The government has committed to implementing all key recommendations, including streamlining regulations to make them more proportionate and risk-focused, eliminating duplicative guidance and overly prescriptive rules, and exploring reforms to judicial review processes for major infrastructure projects.
The goal is a “smarter” regulatory framework that supports rapid, cost-effective delivery across both civil and defence nuclear programs, while delivering better outcomes for nature and biodiversity.
The overhaul is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2027, subject to legislative timelines.
It builds on existing initiatives, including progress at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the recent green light for Sizewell C in Suffolk, and the push for small modular reactors (SMRs).
The reforms also tie into broader efforts to train the next generation of nuclear experts, with plans to quadruple doctoral student intakes and support over 500 PhD students as part of a Nuclear Skills Plan targeting 24,000 jobs by 2030.
Additional investments include £65.6 million in matched funding for advanced reactor research, waste management, and national security programs.
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