Government plans to make it easier for nuclear power plants to be allowed

What are Small Modular Reactors?

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.

What are the advantages of SMRs?

Given their smaller footprint, SMRs can be sited on locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants.

Prefabricated units of SMRs can be manufactured and then shipped and installed on site, making them more affordable to build than large power reactors, which are often custom designed for a particular location.

SMRs also offer savings in cost and construction time, and they can be deployed incrementally to match increasing energy demand.

When was the last time a nuclear power station was built in the UK?

The UK was the first country in the world to develop a nuclear reactor, but the last time a nuclear power station was built was back in 1995. The Government acknowledges that none have been built since, which has left the UK lagging behind in a global race to harness cleaner, more affordable energy.

 

What about the rest of the world?

According to sources, China is leading the way in the industry and constructing 29 reactors. Whilst the EU has 12 at the planning stage.

What does this mean for the UK?

To ensure the UK is not left behind, the Government plans to shake up the planning rules to streamline the planning process and make it easier to build nuclear developments across the country.

As well as including mini-nuclear power stations in planning rules for the first time so that firms can start building them in the places that need them, other reforms proposed include:

 

1. At present, nuclear development is restricted to eight sites in the UK. This list of sites will be scrapped, meaning that nuclear sites could be built anywhere across England and Wales;
2. The expiry date on nuclear planning rules will be removed so that projects do not get ‘timed out’, allowing the industry to plan for the long term; and
3. A Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce will be set up which will spearhead improvements to the regulations. It is expected that the Taskforce will speed up the approval of new reactor designs and streamline how developers engage with regulators.

What has Prime Minister Keir Starmer said about his new plan?

The Prime Minister has said:

“This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. we’ve been let down, and left behind"

“Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, 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"

"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”

 

Closing Note:

It is hoped that these further planning reforms will deliver and help streamline the process to encourage investment and enable developers to identify the best sites for their projects.

If you feel you have a site that may be suitable for such a project, please get in touch with DHA Environment’s David Harvey and Tim Spicer at the earliest opportunity.