Planning rules to be relaxed for small nuclear reactors

The government is keen to relax planning rules to allow nuclear power stations to be built on more sites than are currently permitted.

Having more freedom over siting for new nuclear plants is required for the rollout of small and advanced modular reactors, the government’s Civil Nuclear Roadmap to 2050 states.

Released today (10 January) the roadmap also pledges to:

• Increase nuclear generation to 24GW by 2050
• Reach a final investment decision on Sizewell C before the end of this Parliament
• Explore further large-scale nuclear projects during the coming year
• Secure investment decisions to deliver 3-7GW every five years from 2030 to 2044

The roadmap also states that Great British Nuclear (GBN) will “soon” invite bids from six shortlisted firms for its SMR competition with a view to reaching a final investment decision on the technology by 2029.

However, the roadmap also states that the success of SMRs is dependent on changes to planning regulations; in particular around siting.

The National Policy Statement currently permits the development of new nuclear on eight sites – two of which will be used for Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.

The roadmap, comprised by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero states that “this does not leave enough viable sites to meet our nuclear ambitions”.

It adds that as “new generations of nuclear technology (SMR and AMR) are likely to be deployed more flexibly […] we need all the possible nuclear sites to be used for nuclear, in order to meet our power needs”.

To achieve this, the government said it will launch a consultation outlining a new approach to siting nuclear projects which will be incorporated into the next iteration of the National Policy Statement.

The new approach will not limit nuclear locations to set developments from 2025 onwards, the roadmap states.

Instead, the government “will give developers a clear set of criteria to apply in choosing sites to build on, giving them clarity – but also flexibility – to find sites which work best for them. These include considerations around nuclear safety and security, environmental protection and operational requirements”.

The roadmap adds: “We will also not set a time limit for how long developers have to identify their sites, nor require that they develop them by a certain deadline.

“Furthermore, the revised [energy policy statement] provides the overarching needs case for new nuclear development and introduces a critical national priority policy for low carbon infrastructure, which includes nuclear electricity generation.

“In practice this means an enhanced presumption in favour of granting consent to applications for low carbon NSIPs in the decision-making process.”

It concludes: “This approach will provide greater flexibility in the siting of new nuclear projects, including advanced nuclear technologies, while also ensuring that nuclear projects are sited in suitable locations, taking the relevant safety, environmental and operational assessments into account.”

The roadmap adds that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will also periodically publish a prospectus stating which of its land holdings will soon become available for reuse.

It adds: “Where there is commercial interest in available land, the NDA and the government will run fair and transparent processes to lease or option land, with the assumption being that sites go first to new nuclear projects, where that is feasible and represents value for money.”

The move to relax siting rules follows calls from industry to open up sites for nuclear power stations.

In December, MoltexFLEX director of commercial development Tris Denton issued a plea to government to loosen its site selection regime for nuclear power plants.

Denton said that there should instead be an “exclusionary” process to define those areas that are “not suitable” for SMRs.

Responding to the roadmap Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “We welcome the publication of the roadmap – the commitment to explore a further large-scale project beyond Sizewell C in parallel with the deployment of SMRs is very welcome. We will need both large and small nuclear at scale and at pace for our energy security and net zero future.”

Energy secretary Claire Coutinho added: “Strengthening our energy security means that Britain will never again be held to ransom over energy by tyrants like Vladimir Putin. British nuclear, as one of the most reliable, low-carbon sources of energy around, will provide that security.

“We’re making the biggest investment in domestic nuclear energy in 70 years. Our £300 million plan to produce advanced nuclear fuel in the UK will supply nuclear plants at home and overseas – further weakening the Kremlin’s grip on global energy markets.

“From large gigawatt projects to small modular reactors, the UK’s wider nuclear revival will quadruple our nuclear capacity by 2050 – helping to power Britain from Britain.”