New nuclear is essential to Net Zero and will create thousands of jobs

The government has announced plans to make it easier to bring new nuclear projects online by cutting red tape.

Prospect reps Josh Whitworth, second left, and Tom Bleasdale, right, meeting Sir Keir Starmer and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on 6 February

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement during a visit to the National Nuclear Laboratory at the Springfields site in Lancashire, where he also met and spoke with Prospect reps, Joshua Whitworth, chair of Prospect’s UKNNL branch and Tom Bleasdale, secretary of our Westinghouse branch.

The government says it will:

• Include mini-nuclear power stations in planning rules for the first time
• Scrap the set list of 8-sites – which means nuclear sites could be built anywhere across England and Wales.
• Remove the expiry date on nuclear planning rules
• Set up a Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“The government’s ambition to drive forward a new generation of nuclear power after decades of delay is exactly what Britain needs.

“Nuclear is not only essential for hitting our Net Zero goals and maintaining energy security, it also creates thousands of good, well-paid jobs in areas of the country where they are sorely needed.

“Speeding up the approval of new sites and new reactors is an important step to help us get these projects over the line, and the government’s support for the Sizewell C project is a vote of confidence in the sector which we hope is reflected in an imminent Final Investment Decision.

“The success of Britain’s world class nuclear sector is built on a solid foundation of regulation, and we welcome a review of this framework to ensure it is supporting growth while still giving assurance that high safety standards are being maintained.”