‘Archaic rules’ torn up to green light new nuclear

The mini nuclear power plants will now be included in planning rules as part of the government’s so-called Plan for Change.

Other measures to speed up deployment of nuclear power stations include scrapping the eight-site list, thereby widening the areas for nuclear new build; removing the expiry date on nuclear planning rules; and the establishment of a Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce that will report directly to PM Keir Starmer.  

The measures are being introduced to cut red tape, ‘ripping up archaic rules and saying no to the NIMBYs to prioritise growth’.

It comes after recent changes to planning laws and the scrapping of the 3-strike rule for judicial reviews on infrastructure projects. According to the government, a ‘common sense’ approach will be applied to environmental rules.

Hinkley Point C is currently under construction, 30 years after Sizewell B came online. Sizewell C is in the pipeline and preliminary works are being carried out, but the project is still awaiting a final investment decision. Meanwhile, China is constructing 29 reactors, and the EU has 12 at planning stage.

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Starmer said the UK’s energy security ‘has been hostage’ to Russian president Vladimir Putin with ‘British prices skyrocketing at his whims’.

“I’m putting an end to it – changing the rules to back the builders of this nation, and saying no to the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long,” Starmer said in a statement. “My government was elected to deliver change. I’ll take the radical decisions needed to wrestle Britain from its status quo slumber, to turbocharge our plan for change.”

Commenting on today’s announcement (February 6, 2025) Julia Pyke, joint managing director of Sizewell C, said: “Nuclear will deliver a big boost to growth and energy security, so it’s great that the government is announcing ambitious plans to make it easier for new plants to be built.

“Sizewell C is the next step on this journey. We’re already underway with £2.5bn worth of contracts signed, over 1000 people on site and tens of thousands of more jobs lined up, and will be providing clean, homegrown, reliable energy for the UK for decades to come.”

On small modular reactors, Andy Champ, GE Hitachi UK country lead, said: “The government has highlighted new nuclear as essential to the UK’s economic growth, energy security and net zero objectives, however, limited site availability has presented a significant barrier to SMR development. Today’s announcement is welcome and sends a positive signal to the market that the UK is serious about developing a fleet of SMRs.”