The UK Government is actively considering revising planning regulations to facilitate the construction of mini nuclear plants across a more diverse array of locations. This move is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance the country’s nuclear energy capacity, particularly through the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs).

As outlined in the government’s “Nuclear Roadmap to 2050”, the focus is shifting from solely large-scale nuclear projects to also include SMRs and AMRs. The Roadmap highlights the aim of achieving up to 24GW of nuclear energy by 2050. It acknowledges the continued relevance of existing nuclear sites designated under EN-6 but stresses the need for a wider variety of locations to meet future energy demands.

Sam Richards, the founder of Britain Remade, has praised the government’s initiative. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that SMRs do not encounter the same regulatory challenges that have historically impeded larger nuclear projects.

Richards expressed his views on the matter, stating, “We cannot allow the construction of game-changing technologies like SMRs to be hindered by restrictive planning and regulatory rules. Today’s announcement is a positive first step towards establishing a network of mini reactors throughout the country. However, it is crucial that the government takes further steps to ensure that SMRs can navigate the regulatory landscape more smoothly than their larger gigawatt-scale counterparts.”