Updated nuclear siting policy will re-establish UK as ‘global leader’

Rolls-Royce has welcomed changes that will make it easier for nuclear power stations to be located closer to centres of high energy demand.

The Government recently launched the new Draft National Policy Statement for nuclear, which outlines the criteria for development of new nuclear sites.

The introduction of the policy, which provides a pathway for developing nuclear facilities in new locations, will enable the long-term deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and ensure the UK can access reliable, secure, low-carbon energy.

The changes mean that Rolls-Royce SMR’s ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plants can be deployed flexibly in more locations – closer to centres of high energy demand – and will support the UK’s energy intensive industries including datacentres, AI infrastructure and hydrogen production.

Alastair Evans, Rolls-Royce SMR’s director of corporate affairs, said: “This is a clear statement of intent from the Government.

“This announcement, coupled with wider planning reform that is focused on growth, will pave the way for the UK to re-establish itself as a global leader in nuclear.

“This will align the planning of nuclear projects with all other forms of electricity infrastructure and enable projects to be delivered in the longer term.

“There are a range of existing nuclear sites, ready for development now, that will be unlocked by a commitment to the SMR programme in the upcoming Spending Review.

“It is, therefore, vital that winners of the SMR selection process are announced in the spring, to give certainty to these nuclear communities.”

Rolls-Royce SMR’s solution offers a radically different approach to delivering new nuclear power.

Each of its plants can provide enough low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years on a site that is a fraction of the size of a large ‘gigawatt-scale’ nuclear power station.