Given that the Minister envisaged a three-year timeline to develop, consult upon, and designate a new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS), and that as of 18 July 2023 the consultation stage had not even started, we are concerned that there may be a creeping delay in updating the NPS for new nuclear. This would not only send the wrong signal to a sector poised for investment but could cause delays in deployment. New nuclear developers require knowledge of where a reactor can be built if th...

Given that the Minister envisaged a three-year timeline to develop, consult upon, and designate a new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS), and that as of 18 July 2023 the consultation stage had not even started, we are concerned that there may be a creeping delay in updating the NPS for new nuclear. This would not only send the wrong signal to a sector poised for investment but could cause delays in deployment. New nuclear developers require knowledge of where a reactor can be built if they are to advance their plans. Type: conclusion | Number: 55 | Paragraph: 266 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: As an initial step in the development of the new nuclear National Policy Statement, the developments could be sited in future. The intention is to publish this consultation before the end of 2023. This consultation will also address the possibility of deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and othe