Nuclear regulation: input to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce review
Detail of outcome
The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce has published its interim report, summarising emerging thinking resulting from initial consultations.
The responses have however raised further questions, listed in the interim review.
We welcome your comments and thoughts on these questions, or any more general feedback on issues identified in this report (see Annex D).
Please submit new responses / comments by 8 September 2025 to: nuclearregulatorytaskforce@energysecurity.gov.uk, keeping them concise and evidence-based.
Detail of feedback received
We received over 100 responses, including from:
- regulators
- operators
- industry experts
- academia
- developers
- investors
- wider civil society
A large proportion of the responses related to the civil nuclear sector (54% entirely and 36% mostly) with 30% of total responses coming from wider civil society and 30% from mostly civil industry stakeholders. Some responses were received from individuals in industry or regulators who wished to remain anonymous. Responses included a mixture of evidence, opinions and lived experiences, alongside case studies that offered practical insights and real-world examples from various stakeholders.
Original call for evidence
Call for evidence description
The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce has been created to review the UK nuclear framework and regulation - see the Taskforce role and membership.
This call for evidence covers:
- civil and defence nuclear regulation
and where it relates to nuclear matters
- health and safety, environmental and planning regulation
- energy transmission regulation
We are interested in views on whether this captures the relevant regulatory domain and, if not, what other regulation might need to be in scope.
We would like to hear from anyone with an interest in the regulation of defence and civil nuclear:
- regulators
- operators
- industry
- academia
- developers
- investors
- wider civil society
We are particularly looking for evidence and facts to inform our work, which could include case studies, historical data, ideas and observations that make the case for change, illustrate the benefits of new approaches, or highlight lessons learned.
Call for evidence questions
1. What are the key challenges of the current regulatory system (including nuclear site licensing, regulatory justification, environment and planning to the extent relevant to nuclear development) across the nuclear plant lifecycle (for example design, build, operation, maintenance, decommissioning/disposal, waste management)?
2. What are the key benefits of the current regulatory system?
3. How proportionate is the current regulatory burden to the risks involved in nuclear activities across all hazard / risk areas (for example, conventional safety, radiation safety, nuclear safety, environment, planning)?
4. How well adapted is regulation to support the deployment of advanced and innovative nuclear technologies (such as SMRs and AMRs) and what needs to change?
5. Do you have evidence of where duty holders鈥� and regulatory organisations approaches to regulatory obligations, processes and good practice, including safety culture, caused undue delays or barriers to project delivery?
6. Do you have evidence of where current regulatory processes enable innovation?
7. Do you have evidence of whether the current interaction between industry and regulators at different working levels helps or hinders achieving clear, timely, and effective outcomes?
8. Are there best practices from other sectors / nations that are relevant?
9. Do you have any additional evidence to share?
We are interested in views on whether this captures the relevant regulatory domain and, if not, what other regulation might need to be in scope.
Once we have finalised the scope, we may contact those who have made submissions with more detailed requests for evidence.
Updates to this page
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Added the outcome and details of further consultation.
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First published.