Radical reform of UK nuclear regulation urged

Radical reform of the UK's nuclear regulatory system is needed to remove barriers to new projects, according to a report.

An interim report from the new Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce said the current system was "unnecessarily slow, inefficient and costly".

"Over time, the regulation of civil and defence nuclear programmes has become increasingly complex and bureaucratic, leading to huge delays and ballooning costs, often for marginal benefit," the taskforce said in its interim report.

"With the UK's ambitious civil and defence programmes set to expand to meet energy security, net-zero, and deterrent demands, a reset is needed. Our regulatory system needs radical reform to enable speedy and cost-effective delivery of new civil and defence investment and existing operations."

The taskforce said it will now work with stakeholders to further develop recommendations on actions which will be published later this year.