The UK is embarking on an ambitious programme of investment in nuclear energy, seeking to reverse decades of declining capacity. The Government is counting on new nuclear to help deliver energy security and decarbonise electricity generation. Announcing funding for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in June, the Energy Secretary said “we need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance.”
But past promises of a golden age of nuclear energy have so far failed to materialise. A new reactor has not been connected to the grid for 30 years. Nuclear projects have historically faced unique barriers, including complex regulatory and planning processes. The Government now aims to deliver reforms to streamline planning approvals and give greater certainty to developers.
Consultation and scrutiny of EN-7
The National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy Generation (EN-7) has been put forward to help guide planners as they seek to make decisions on siting new nuclear infrastructure.
Under the Planning Act 2008, a National Policy Statement (NPS) like EN-7 must undergo public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny before it can be formally designated.
EN-7 has undergone two rounds of consultation: the first focused on potential changes to the nuclear siting approach; the second introduced the full draft text.
The Committee is now beginning the parliamentary scrutiny process, offering MPs the opportunity to hear from industry, experts, and the public to examine the implications of the framework set out in EN-7 in detail.
What is EN-7?
EN-7 is intended to become the principal guide for decisions on future nuclear power stations in England and Wales.
Nuclear infrastructure proposals are currently limited to eight sites in England and Wales. EN-7 replaces this with a criteria-based approach. It is also intended to support development of a broader range of nuclear technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), as well as traditional gigawatt-scale plants.
The aim is to create a future-proof planning framework that enables a pipeline of new nuclear projects to come forward.
Call for Evidence
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee is now inviting written submissions to help assess whether EN-7 provides a coherent and effective framework for enabling the UK’s nuclear ambitions.