Nuclear energy in the UK is being held back by outdated regulations and bureaucracy, according to an interim report from an independent task force
The independent task force has called for a once-in-a-generation overhaul to enable faster, cheaper, and safer nuclear development, as the government pushes forward with its ambitious energy plans.
The need for a reset
The Nuclear Taskforce, established earlier this year and led by former Office of Fair Trading CEO John Fingleton, has found that the current regulatory framework for nuclear projects is “unnecessarily slow, inefficient and costly.”
The findings suggest that the existing system is not only delaying the development of clean energy infrastructure but is also inflating the cost of maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
With safety still a top priority, the task force argues that the current approach to regulation is too complex and risk-averse.
This combined with outdated planning frameworks and duplicated processes, is slowing the rollout of both traditional nuclear facilities and newer technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs).
An opportunity for growth
The UK government has committed to a “golden age of nuclear,” hoping to drive investment, boost energy security, and create thousands of skilled jobs. Major projects like Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and future SMR developments are expected to expand the country’s nuclear capacity in the coming decade.
However, the task force warns that without comprehensive regulatory reform, these opportunities may be missed or delayed. Streamlining the approval process and updating planning rules will be essential to making nuclear a key pillar of Britain’s clean energy future.
Nuclear Taskforce lead John Fingleton said:
“Nuclear energy is safe and reliable and can contribute to net zero goals. It is also vital to the UK’s strategic deterrent”
“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.”
Key areas for change
The interim report shows several areas that must be addressed to unlock nuclear energy’s full potential:
- Regulatory Complexity:
- Processes are often duplicated across multiple bodies, creating delays and confusion.
- Risk-Averse Culture:
- An overly cautious mindset has led to disproportionate safety measures that increase time and costs without equivalent benefits.
- Outdated Planning Frameworks:
- Current planning systems are not designed to accommodate innovative technologies like SMRs and advanced modular reactors.
- Workforce Expertise:
- There is a need to maintain and grow a pool of skilled professionals to meet future demand.
- International Cooperation:
- Greater standardisation across global nuclear regulators could reduce costs and simplify approvals.
- Cost Awareness:
- Regulators need a better understanding of how delays impact the overall cost and feasibility of nuclear projects.
The UK’s nuclear programme is now the most ambitious it has been in decades. With large-scale projects underway and emerging technologies gaining attention, the timing of this change is essential.
The government has already started to take the following steps, including recent moves to simplify planning laws and reduce the administrative burden of regulation by 25%.
In the next few months, the task force will gather feedback and develop final recommendations, expected in the autumn. The aim is to create a clear and efficient regulatory path that supports safe, innovative, and economically viable nuclear energy development.
