PM pledges nuclear power surge

More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales with planning rules revamped and Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowing to slash red tape on a visit to Lancashire.

The government says reforms to planning rules will clear a path for smaller and easier to build nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors (SMR) – to be built for the first time in the UK.

It says that will create thousands of new highly skilled jobs while delivering “clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people”.

Speaking during a visit to the National Nuclear Laboratory’s site at Springfields, near Preston, alongside energy secretary Ed Miliband, the PM said the advent of SMRs meant progress could be swift.

And the change in planning rules meant that they could be built beyond the eight existing designated nuclear sites.

The Prime Minister said: “We used to be one of the world leaders on nuclear. I’m determined we’re going to get back there. So, we are the builders, and we’re going to take on the blockers.”

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.

Currently only one – Hinkley Point C in Somerset – is under construction after years of delay. Meanwhile, China is constructing 29 reactors, and the EU has 12 at planning stage.

Announcing the plans to change that, Keir Starmer 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.”

He added: “Currently, nuclear development is restricted to eight sites - as part of archaic planning rules that haven’t been looked at since 2011.

“With the reforms unveiled today, the refreshed planning framework will help streamline the process to encourage investment and enable developers to identify the best sites for their projects, supporting development at a wider range of locations. 

“Developers will be encouraged to bring forward sites as soon as possible at the pre-application stage in the planning process, speeding up overall timelines. 

“It will include new nuclear technologies such as small and advanced modular reactors for the first time, providing flexibility to co-locate them with energy intensive industrial sites such as AI data centres.

“These technologies are cheaper and quicker to build than traditional nuclear power plants and require smaller sites, meaning they can be built in a greater variety of locations. 

“There will also continue to be robust criteria for nuclear reactor locations, including restrictions near densely populated areas and military activity, alongside community engagement and high environmental standards.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband added: “Build, build, build - that is what Britain’s clean energy mission is all about.

“The British people have been left vulnerable to global energy markets for too long - and the only way out is to build our way to a new era of clean electricity.”

Simone Rossi, chief executive of EDF in the UK, which operates the two nuclear power stations at Heysham, said: “As a major operator, investor and developer, EDF welcomes the proposals designed to speed up new nuclear projects in the UK and unlock economic growth.

“Nuclear is essential to a secure, low carbon energy system and is the ideal partner to renewables. There is a great opportunity to build new infrastructure across England and Wales, to replace aging stations and take advantage of available skills, existing grid connections and supportive communities.”