Select Committee · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Planning for nuclear energy generation

Status: Closed Opened: 17 Jul 2025 Closed: 31 Dec 2025 9 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

The UK is embarking on an ambitious programme of investment in nuclear energy, seeking to reverse decades of declining capacity. The Government is counting on new nuclear to help deliver energy security and decarbonise electricity generation. Announcing funding for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in June, the Energy Secretary said “ we need new …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - The new National Policy Statement for nuclear … HC 1212 24 Oct 2025 19 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
10 Recommendation 4th Report - The new National Policy St… Acknowledged

Set out how a "one stop shop" for civil nuclear permitting could operate in practice.

The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce has already called for radical reform to the regulatory landscape. It should set out how a “one stop shop” for permitting civil nuclear could operate in practice and examine whether this could be achieved without compromising safety and environmental standards. The Government should respond swiftly with …

Government response. The government will carefully consider the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s final recommendations and respond as soon as possible, without committing to specific policy or legislative changes at this stage.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
11 Conclusion 4th Report - The new National Policy St… Acknowledged

Government must consider proposals for a diverse fleet of reactors for future energy needs.

Looking beyond EN-7, the Government will need to start considering proposals for a more diverse fleet of reactors with different benefits and risks. A future NPS might, for certain technologies, need to disapply criteria or introduce entirely new ones. (Conclusion, Paragraph 38) 25

Government response. The government notes the committee's conclusion about a future NPS needing to accommodate diverse reactor technologies and include technology-specific criteria. It states it is open to exploring these opportunities and will continue engagement with industry and experts.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
12 Conclusion 4th Report - The new National Policy St… Acknowledged

Signal Government's openness to developing technology-specific criteria in the next nuclear NPS.

EN-7 should signal the Government’s openness to developing more technology-specific criteria in the next nuclear NPS, and invite ongoing contributions from industry, regulators and independent experts on how siting policy can adapt to a more varied nuclear landscape. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Improvements to the draft criteria

Government response. The government is open to exploring opportunities for technology-specific criteria in future nuclear National Policy Statements (NPS) and will continue to engage with industry, regulators, and experts as it develops future siting policy.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
15 Recommendation 4th Report - The new National Policy St… Acknowledged

Investigate creative mechanisms to ensure local economic value from nuclear developments is captured.

Besides traditional measures like apprenticeship quotas and community benefit funds, the Government should also investigate more creative mechanisms to ensure economic value from nuclear developments is captured locally. This could include doing more to encourage jointly consenting public infrastructure like roads and railways, and exploring fiscal measures like full business …

Government response. The government notes the recommendation and is exploring all options, including potential guidance on community benefit funds, to ensure economic value from nuclear developments is captured locally.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
10 Sep 2025 Alastair Evans · Rolls Royce SMR, Catherine Anderson · National Infrastructure Planning Association, Julia Pyke · Sizewell C, Mike Finnerty · Office for Nuclear Regulation, Rebecca Phillips · Planning Inspectorate, Tom Greatrex · Nuclear Industry Association View ↗