The UK has been identified as the “most expensive place in the world” to construct nuclear power stations, largely attributed to complex bureaucracy and regulatory frameworks. This assessment emerged from a government review initiated by Keir Starmer in February, aimed at addressing “archaic rules” to facilitate nuclear development.
On Monday, the nuclear regulatory taskforce warned that significant changes are needed to streamline regulations in order to save “tens of billions” and halt the decline of the nuclear sector. The report criticized the current regulatory system as “fragmented,” resulting in decisions that are overly cautious and disproportionately costly compared to the actual risks involved.
John Fingleton, who led the taskforce and previously served as the head of the Office of Fair Trading, highlighted that simplifying regulations could maintain safety standards while enabling more efficient nuclear capacity development. The taskforce’s interim report, published in August, had faced skepticism from a coalition of 25 civil society groups, who expressed concerns that proposed reforms lacked “credibility and rigour.”
The final recommendations include reorganizing nuclear regulatory bodies into a single commission and amending environmental and planning regulations to expedite project implementation. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband remarked that the expected changes are crucial for promoting new nuclear energy in a safe and cost-effective manner.
Support for the report came from Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, who noted that it presents a significant opportunity to enhance the coherence and efficiency of nuclear regulation. Sam Richards, chief executive of Britain Remade, suggested that these findings could be pivotal in reducing nuclear construction costs.
The report emphasizes that the current regulatory landscape imposes excessive burdens, contributing to inefficiencies and increased costs that ultimately impact consumers’ electricity bills. The Office for Nuclear Regulation plans to incorporate the taskforce’s findings into a new regulatory strategy, which is set to undergo public consultation next month.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/24/new-nuclear-reactors-regulations-uk-government-taskforce