Minister for Energy (): My Honourable Friend
of Balham, Minister of State
for Science, Research and Innovation has today made the following
statement:
My Lords, the Nuclear Regulatory Review set out a stark challenge
for all of us; government, regulators and industry.
The government is meeting this challenge by taking forward all 47
recommendations. Delay has a cost, so we have committed to
implementing these reforms by the end of 2027.
As part of this we have set out our plan to introduce the Nuclear
Regulation Bill in this parliamentary session.
We know that simply announcing reforms is not enough. I have
chaired the first Nuclear Regulatory Implementation Panel.
This panel will hold industry, regulators and the government to
account for implementing the delivery plans for each
recommendation and driving the culture change required to build
our nuclear nation.
I am today informing the House of the government's intention to
review and update the National Policy Statement for nuclear
energy, EN7, in response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review. This
Statement is made in accordance with section 6(4A) of the
Planning Act 2008, which requires the Secretary of State to lay a
statement before Parliament announcing the review.
EN-7, designated in 2025, establishes the planning policy
framework for nuclear energy infrastructure in England and Wales,
and introduced a modular approach that enables targeted updates
while providing regulatory certainty.
Since its designation, there have been developments in the
regulatory and policy landscape, including the Nuclear Regulatory
Review, which identified opportunities to clarify and improve the
operation of the regulatory and planning framework for nuclear
infrastructure.
The government therefore intends to review EN7 at pace, making
use of its modular structure to ensure that it continues to
reflect these developments and remains effective. The government
expects to consult on any proposed updates in due course.
Parliamentary scrutiny will take place as required once any
amended National Policy Statement is laid before Parliament.
The government intends to conclude the review by the end of 2026,
with any updates to EN7 published in 2027, subject to
parliamentary scrutiny. The current form of EN7 will continue to
apply while the review is underway.
In parallel, the government intends to initiate a review of the
National Policy Statement on geological disposal infrastructure,
and of the previous National Policy Statement on nuclear power,
EN6. This approach reflects the Secretary of State's duty under
section 6 of the Planning Act 2008 to keep National Policy
Statements under review, including reviewing all current National
Policy Statements by February 2028.
Only through ambitious reforms and cultural change can we deliver
what's needed; less duplication, bureaucracy, and a process that
is more appealing for investors.
