The UK’s Nuclear Taskforce has issued an interim report calling for sweeping reforms to the country’s nuclear energy regulatory framework, describing the current system as “unnecessarily slow, inefficient, and costly.” The report argues that these barriers are hindering the delivery of clean energy infrastructure and increasing the costs of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The taskforce, led by John Fingleton, suggests that a “radical reset” is needed to speed up vital nuclear projects and encourage more companies to build in Britain.
The report identifies several critical areas where reform could transform nuclear delivery while maintaining high safety standards. These include overly complex and inconsistent regulatory processes, risk-averse cultures that prioritise bureaucracy over proportionate safety measures, and outdated planning frameworks that fail to support new technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs). The taskforce’s findings come on the heels of the Chancellor’s announcement to reduce the administrative cost of regulation by 25%.
“Over recent decades, nuclear regulation has become more complex and costly without always delivering commensurate safety and environmental benefits,” Fingleton stated. “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.”
The government has responded by committing to work with the taskforce to develop a new strategic direction for nuclear operators and regulators. This direction will prioritise the quick, effective, and safe delivery of nuclear programmes. The government’s nuclear programme is now the most ambitious for a generation, with reforms seen as essential to unlock the industry’s potential. Once SMRs and Sizewell C come online in the 2030s, combined with Hinkley Point C, they will deliver more new nuclear energy to the grid than over the previous half century combined.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh emphasised the need for change, stating, “For too long, big British infrastructure projects have been held back by needless bureaucracy. It’s time for a new approach to getting nuclear projects off the ground more quickly, and at a lower cost.”
The final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn. The taskforce’s recommendations will focus on tackling a culture of risk aversion, addressing complex and inconsistent regulations, updating the planning framework to support innovative technologies, maintaining workforce expertise, and improving the regulatory understanding of project delay costs. Additionally, the report will explore the potential for greater standardisation across international regulators to cut down complexity, costs, and delays when seeking approvals.
This reform could significantly shape the future of the UK’s nuclear sector, potentially accelerating the deployment of new technologies and reducing the overall cost of nuclear energy. By streamlining regulatory processes and fostering a more innovative and risk-proportionate culture, the UK could position itself as a leader in the next generation of nuclear energy. The taskforce’s work highlights the critical role that regulation plays in enabling or hindering technological progress and could serve as a model for other countries seeking to modernise their nuclear industries. The upcoming final report will be eagerly awaited by stakeholders across the energy sector, as its recommendations could pave the way for a new era of nuclear energy in the UK.