The 海角视频 Government has committed to generating thousands of highly skilled jobs by overhauling planning regulations to facilitate the construction of new nuclear reactors. Despite previous setbacks with proposals for a Wylfa B plant on Anglesey, where investors pulled out and no new developer has been secured for the site purchased by the last 海角视频 Government, there is renewed momentum.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that additional nuclear power plants will be sanctioned across England and Wales as bureaucratic hurdles are set to be "slashed".
The government's strategy includes enabling the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs), which would mark their debut in the 海角视频, offering clean, secure, and more affordable energy solutions. Today's announcement reveals that mini-nuclear power stations will now be incorporated into planning legislation for the first time, abolishing the restrictive list of eight designated sites and allowing for a broader range of locations to be considered.
Furthermore, the expiration date on nuclear planning rules will be eliminated, and a Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce will be formed to expedite the process. With Britain recognised as one of the most costly nations for building nuclear power, this taskforce aims to accelerate the approval of new reactor designs and refine the interaction between developers and regulatory bodies.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has asserted: "This country hasn't built a nuclear power station in decades. We've been let down and left behind. Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, with British prices skyrocketing at his whims. I'm putting an end to it - changing the rules to back the builders of this nation, and saying no to the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long.."
Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Môn, Llinos Medi, emphasising the significance of the Wylfa site, stated: "Wylfa is one of the best sites in Europe for nuclear energy, with the potential to create thousands of skilled jobs and bring long-term benefits to our community. But we need clarity on 海角视频 Government funding commitments, not just planning reforms."
Medi further highlighted her interactions during Nuclear Week in Parliament, expressing frustration over past delays: "Last week, during Nuclear Week in Parliament, I had positive discussions with industry experts and developers about Wylfa's potential – but after 15 years of delay, people are fed up. We need action."
Reflecting on her previous role as council leader and the disappointment with prior Conservative government actions, she added: "As council leader, I worked hard to ensure that any development at Wylfa would directly benefit local people, only for the previous Conservative government to fail us at the final hurdle. This time, we need a clear funding model and real commitment to secure Wylfa's place at the heart of the 海角视频's clean energy future."
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Energy Secretary Ed Miliband succinctly encapsulated the sentiment with his remark: "Build, build, build - that is what Britain's clean energy mission is all about."
"The British people have been left vulnerable to global energy markets for too long - and the only way out is to build our way to a new era of clean electricity. Nuclear power creating thousands of skilled jobs. That is what this Government will deliver," declared the Prime Minister, signalling a strong commitment to nuclear energy as part of the 海角视频's power strategy.
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, supported this view, stating: "This is the Prime Minister's strongest signal yet that new nuclear is critical to the growth and clean power mission. A more streamlined planning system will give certainty to investors, the supply chain and communities, and will enable us to get on with building new nuclear plants on more sites and at pace for a cleaner, more secure power system."
Further advocating for the nuclear sector, Greatrex added, "We need to make Britain the best possible place to build new nuclear, both large-scale and SMRs, which means avoiding unnecessary stumbling blocks and ensuring regulations are proportionate to our urgent need for low carbon power, energy security and good jobs."
Echoing the government's stance, Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow energy secretary, said it was "about time that Labour started to follow our lead in recognising the benefits of stable, reliable, baseload nuclear power".
Referring to the current energy policy, he said: "But it's little comfort when Ed Miliband's ideological approach to energy is sending bills through the roof, British jobs abroad, and denying billions of pounds of investment into Britain. He is caving in to the demands of Just Stop Oil by not supporting British industry with Rosebank and Jackdaw, and the man running his taxpayer-funded £8 billion vanity project refuses to say when it will deliver the new jobs Ed promised."
Chris Curtis MP, Co-Chair of Labour Growth Group, commented: "Under the Tories the 海角视频 became one of the most expensive countries in the world to build nuclear power in, driving up bills and putting our energy security at the mercy of Putin. That's why the Labour Growth Group has been clear that removing the barriers to new nuclear should be an immediate priority for the Government."
"The Prime Minister's bold and decisive action today will have a direct impact on both unleashing the potential of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology and supporting the delivery of new Gigawatt nuclear power plants."