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Review of National Policy Statements for Nuclear Energy Infrastructure

My Honourable Friend Lord Vallance 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, EN‑7, 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 EN‑7 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 EN‑7 published in 2027, subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The current form of EN‑7 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, EN‑6. 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.