Labour minister set to slash red tape and take on the NIMBYs blocking the construction of new nuclear powers across Britain_Nhy
Ministers will slash red tape and take on the ‘blockers’ to build nuclear reactors across Britain.
More nuclear plants will be built across the country creating thousands of highly skilled jobs, the Prime Minister and Chancellor said.
The last nuclear power station to be built in the UK was in 1995. Construction on Hinkley Point C began in 2017 and it will open in around five years after multiple delays.
Last night, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves told the Mail: ‘We were once a world pioneer in nuclear power but now we’re left floundering in the global race.
‘Years of delay from a Conservative government too weak to take on the vested interests has stopped the country leading the way, but this government will not accept that.
‘The opportunity on offer is immense. New nuclear will boost UK energy security and has the potential to create thousands of jobs and kickstart economic growth – our number one mission.
‘Sizewell C alone is expected to support 10,000 jobs and stimulate £4.4 billion worth of investment in the East of England.
‘But seizing the opportunity requires bold decisions. This Government is taking on the new nuclear blockers to put the UK back at the forefront of the global race.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (pictured in Driffield, Humberside) said the UK was once a world pioneer in nuclear power
Sir Keir (pictured on Wednesday at Downing Street) said the UK has been let down and left behind on nuclear power
‘Our plans will shake up planning rules to make it easier and cheaper to build nuclear power stations across the country and put a stop to the endless dithering and debate. And they will help us renew the nuclear deterrent, protecting the UK for generations to come.
‘We’ve already begun axing red tape and tearing regulatory barriers that hold back economic growth, including overhauling the legal challenges to major infrastructure projects.
‘This Government is going further and faster to kickstart economic growth, to put more money in working people’s pockets.’
Sir Keir 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.’
Construction on Hinkley Point C began in 2017 and it will open in around five years
Keir Starmer said Britain’s energy security has been ‘hostage to Putin for too long’
No new nuclear stations were built when Labour was last in power, but construction was started on one when the Tories were last in charge.
Ministers claim that their pledge means that small modular reactors (SMRs) could be built for the first time in the UK.
They also said they would scrap ‘archaic’ rules which currently restrict where nuclear power stations can be built to just eight sites.
Red tape would be ‘slashed’ and ministers would ‘say no to the NIMBYs’ to ensure new power stations can be built, they added.
They said the nuclear industry had been ‘suffocated by regulations’ and this had led investment to collapse, they said, despite the UK being the first country in the world to develop a nuclear reactor.
Ministers will also invite tech companies like Meta and Google invited to build mini-reactors to power AI datacentres.
The expiry date on nuclear planning rules will be scrapped, and a Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce will be established, they added.
