Morning, Thursday, 23rd April 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the UK nuclear industry in light of recent government commitments on planning, regulation and investment. Discussion will focus on what these developments may mean for delivery, cost, safety and public confidence as the programme develops, as well as implications for those affected.
Policy & regulation
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the direction set by the National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy Generation (EN-7) and the Prime Minister’s strategic steer to the nuclear sector following the 2025 Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s review, alongside the reform agenda in the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025: summary. Delegates will assess practical options for translating these measures into faster and more predictable decision-making.
Areas for discussion include what proportionate regulation means in practice, the way forward for planning and site allocation to remain open to different outcomes, and how adherence to safety and environmental obligations can be ensured as delivery is accelerated.
Finances
Sessions will also focus on the financing and sequencing of new nuclear plants, looking at the Government’s £30bn commitment in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the role of Great British Energy and Great British Nuclear, and assessing the Regulated Asset Base model alongside Contracts for Difference. Attendees will consider options in establishing investment disciplines and implications for attracting long-term capital. In light of the inclusion of nuclear under the UK Government Green Financing Framework 2025, sessions will also look at how affordability, allocation of risk, and transparency can best be addressed as projects move from policy commitment to procurement and construction.
Innovation
Looking at nuclear in the context of wider developments in policy and the Government’s economic programme, further discussion is expected on the sector’s place within the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, as well as the Industrial Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. This includes opportunities through the contribution of small modular reactors and larger projects to energy security and industrial capability, alongside demand growth from digital infrastructure.
The planned agenda will also bring out thinking on delivery capacity - supply chains, skills and regional impacts - and look forward to the outlook for fusion and key areas for longer-term innovation. Priorities relating to nuclear safety, cybersecurity and waste management will also be discussed - as well as governance and accountability in public communications as responsibilities evolve across those involved in the sector.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy: EN-7 and the Prime Minister’s Strategic Steer - implications of the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025: summary - priorities for implementing the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s recommendations
- regulation: defining proportionality in practice - ensuring safety and environmental standards - clarity on the direction of civil nuclear, defence-related and legacy decommissioning expectations
- planning and siting: implications of EN-7 for consent pathways - criteria and processes for site allocation, including Wylfa - approaches to community engagement and benefit
- delivery: practical considerations in setting aims - sequencing towards Clean Power 2030 - managing interfaces with grid and other major projects - learning from past delays and cost escalation
- financing: £30bn commitment and creating conditions for investability - RAB versus CfD design choices - affordability, allocation of risk and consumer exposure
- private capital: implications of nuclear under the UK Government Green Financing Framework 2025 - accounting for political and delivery risk - transparency and investment disciplines
- roles and governance: Great British Energy, Great British Nuclear, and delivery responsibilities - coordination with regulators and operators - accountability for outcomes and assurance
- enablers: supply chain readiness and inflation pressures - UK-based procurement, standardisation and exportability - workforce pipelines, skills and regional impacts
- safety and waste: the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s evolving role and regulatory independence - cybersecurity requirements across the supply chain - geological disposal, interim storage and long-term funding
- innovation: outlook for fusion and UK Industrial Fusion Solutions plans, including at West Burton - feasibility timelines and issues for industrial integration - international collaboration and technology sovereignty
