The UK government is set to streamline the approval process for nuclear power plants as part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s strategy to drive economic growth, lower energy bills, and meet decarbonisation targets.
Under an overhaul of planning regulations, developers will have greater flexibility over plant locations, moving beyond the current eight government-designated sites, including Hinkley Point and Sizewell. The changes are expected to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors and gigawatt-scale nuclear projects.
The move comes as the UK continues to grapple with the effects of the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent power prices soaring. Three years on, high energy costs remain a major concern for households and businesses. Meanwhile, the push for renewable energy has increased demand for nuclear power as a stable, low-carbon backup for wind and solar generation.
“This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. We’ve been let down and left behind,” Starmer said. “Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, with British prices skyrocketing at his whims.”
The government is targeting energy as a key sector for economic growth, alongside efforts to expand solar and wind capacity to achieve a fully clean power system by 2030. Nuclear power is seen as essential for balancing the grid when wind speeds drop and skies are overcast.
Beyond relaxing location restrictions, ministers also aim to reduce costs and accelerate project timelines. New regulations will allow pre-approved reactor designs from other countries to be adopted more quickly, making it cheaper and easier to replicate them in the UK.
The reforms mark a shift in Britain’s nuclear policy, signalling a renewed commitment to energy security and decarbonisation.
