A new government review finds complex oversight has slowed nuclear infrastructure projects, prompting regulatory overhaul and new research investment.

The UK Government has announced a series of regulatory and investment measures aimed at accelerating nuclear development, following an independent review that concluded the country’s oversight system has become overly complicated and inefficient.

The review, led by John Fingleton through the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, found that the existing regulatory framework has tended to prioritise administrative process rather than measurable safety outcomes.

Officials say the proposed reforms are intended to streamline oversight while maintaining strict safety and environmental standards.

Ministers plan to implement the taskforce’s recommendations by the end of 2027. The reforms are expected to shorten project timelines and lower the cost of delivering both civil and defence-related nuclear infrastructure.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commented: “I am grateful to John Fingleton for his landmark review, and the government is today publishing our implementation plan to deliver his reforms.

“As the current Middle East conflict shows, we need to go further and faster to build the clean energy we need to get off volatile fossil fuel markets and deliver energy security for our country.

“A crucial part of this is ensuring that we speed up the building of infrastructure in a way that reduces costs, as well as delivering better outcomes for nature.”

Review identifies regulatory barriers

According to the taskforce’s findings, the UK’s nuclear industry has faced delays partly due to overlapping regulatory procedures and complex approval pathways.

The government’s response centres on a shift toward what it describes as ‘risk-based’ regulation. Under the proposed model, regulators would focus resources on areas with the highest safety and environmental risks while simplifying lower-risk administrative processes.

Officials argue that this approach could make oversight more efficient without weakening protections for ecosystems or public safety.

The review’s recommendations may also influence planning rules beyond the nuclear sector. Policymakers are considering whether certain changes, such as adjustments to judicial review processes, could apply to other major infrastructure projects.

Major projects driving new nuclear infrastructure

The regulatory changes come as the UK expands its nuclear infrastructure pipeline as part of its long-term energy and industrial strategy.

Several major projects are already underway or in development:

Sizewell C

Construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk has received government approval. At peak construction, the project is expected to support around 17,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.

Hinkley Point C

Work continues at the Hinkley Point C site in Somerset, currently the UK’s largest nuclear construction project.

Small modular reactors at Wylfa

The government is also supporting plans to deploy the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa in North Wales. These smaller reactor designs are intended to reduce costs and construction times compared with traditional large-scale plants.

Together, these initiatives represent a significant expansion of the UK’s nuclear infrastructure and are intended to strengthen domestic electricity generation while supporting industrial capability.

Expanding the talent pipeline for the nuclear industry

Alongside regulatory reform, the government is investing in workforce development to address skills shortages across the nuclear industry.

More than 500 doctoral students will be trained through new nuclear-focused PhD programmes across UK universities over four annual intake cycles. This would represent roughly four times the current annual intake of nuclear doctoral researchers.

The initiative is designed to strengthen expertise in areas such as reactor technology, nuclear materials, and waste management.

£65.6m research investment

To support this effort, the government is allocating £65.6m to seven nuclear research programmes funded through UK Research and Innovation.

Universities across the UK, including institutions in Wales, Scotland, and England, will participate in projects covering several technical fields, including:

• Advanced nuclear reactor components
• Nuclear waste disposal strategies
• Development of new nuclear fuels and materials
• Research linked to national security requirements

Industry partners are expected to match the public funding, increasing the overall research investment.

Researchers involved in the programmes will contribute to both civil energy applications and defence-related technologies.

Defence Nuclear Enterprise and future workforce needs

The reforms and research initiatives also intersect with the UK’s defence nuclear sector.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise – a network of organisations responsible for maintaining the country’s nuclear deterrent – is projected to support about 65,000 jobs by 2030. These roles span engineering, research, manufacturing, and operational functions.

At the same time, the government is progressing the construction of four Dreadnought-class submarines, which will replace the current fleet responsible for carrying the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Additional investments are also planned for warhead replacement programmes and upgrades to naval bases and nuclear industrial facilities.

Balancing speed and oversight

Officials say the broader aim of the reforms is to ensure nuclear development in the UK can proceed more quickly without weakening regulatory oversight.

If implemented successfully, the changes could reshape how nuclear infrastructure projects move from planning to construction, while also strengthening the scientific and engineering workforce needed to sustain the sector over the coming decades.