Morning, Thursday, 23rd April 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the UK nuclear industry. The agenda will focus on priorities for regulatory frameworks, responsibilities and coordination; new nuclear developments, including advanced technologies; approaches to finance, market development and delivery; and environmental protection, safety and public confidence as deployment accelerates.
Policy, responsibilities & system reform
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the direction set in November by the Prime Minister’s strategic steer to the nuclear sector following the 2025 Nuclear Regulatory Review. Delegates will look at what is needed to address systemic regulatory shortcomings that the review identified across governance, accountability and regulatory coordination, as well as for implementing recommendations it outlined for system reform aimed at streamlining processes, and clarifying roles and responsibilities.
With the Government accepting all of the review’s recommendations and aiming for full implementation over the next two years, attendees will consider practical priorities for the delivery plan, including issues around cost, safety and public confidence as the programme develops.
Regulation, coordination & priorities for oversight
The Nuclear Regulatory Review highlighted concerns that complexity in the regulatory framework and risk aversion can act as barriers to progress. Areas for discussion include criteria for defining acceptable risk within the regulatory framework, implications for regulatory oversight and proportionality across different technologies and delivery models, and options for updating siting criteria to facilitate deployment of a broader range of technologies including small modular reactors and AMRs.
The potential for design standardisation criteria within the National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy Generation (EN-7) will also be considered. Areas for discussion include issues raised by the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee around the interaction of EN-7 with other permitting regimes, and the potential for a criteria-based model to introduce further complexity.
We also expect discussion on implementation of an interim lead regulator prior to the statutory establishment of the Commission for Nuclear Regulation. Delegates will also assess priorities moving forward for providing clarity, cohesion and regulatory certainty.
Environmental protections, enforcement & waste management
Concerns from some stakeholders that recent developments risk weakening environmental protections will be discussed, including how compliance with safety and environmental obligations can be secured and enforced as delivery is accelerated. Sessions will examine progress and latest thinking on tackling ongoing challenges in managing waste, including site selection processes for a Geological Disposal Facility, interim storage solutions, and putting in place effective long-term environmental and safety assurances as new-build commitments move forward.
Innovation & new developments
With the UK’s commitment to new nuclear and advanced technologies, the agenda examines routes for delivery and finance, following the recently published Advanced Nuclear Framework - which aims to develop a project pipeline and to stimulate private investment - as well as the confirmation of Wylfa for the country’s first SMR. Further discussion is expected on opportunities for exportability presented by the UK-US nuclear partnership for access to markets.
Finance & project delivery
The agenda considers key issues for the financing and sequencing of new nuclear plants, looking into how affordability, allocation of risk, and transparency can be addressed effectively as projects move from policy commitment to procurement and construction, including early insights from the first phase of implementing the Regulated Asset Base model for Sizewell C.
Funding commitments in the 2025 Autumn Budget and inclusion of nuclear in the Green Financing Framework 2025 will be considered, with discussion on implications of financial support for risk and private investment confidence, and what this means for debate surrounding the legitimacy of nuclear as a low-carbon technology amid concerns regarding greenwashing.
Attendees will assess options for investment models - including government financing and private funding frameworks to manage risk and attract long-term capital - in the context of concerns over delays and cost overruns at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as well as costs for consumers via the RAB model.
Sessions will look at the Contracts for Difference model for development and post-operation price stability, assessing implications of the Consultation on financial support for nuclear lifetime extensions on supporting the existing nuclear fleet and transition to new-builds.
The role of Great British Energy-Nuclear in facilitating deployment will be discussed, including intentions for Wylfa and Oldbury, support for applicants in meeting EN-7 criteria, scope for financing and facilitating privately-led projects, and coordination with GBE amid stakeholder calls for greater clarity on site prioritisation.
Sessions will also bring out latest thinking on optimising delivery capacity, including priorities for addressing skills gaps and assessing progress so far on implementation of the Nuclear Skills Plan.
Advanced Nuclear Technologies, serving emerging demands in AI and digital & the outlook for fusion
Further discussion will look at the sector’s place within the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, as well as the Industrial Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. Following the launch of the Advanced Nuclear Framework, discussion will assess opportunities through the contribution of small, advanced, and micro modular reactors to energy security and industrial capability, alongside supporting demand from AI and digital infrastructure. Areas for discussion include overcoming integration challenges, including concerns regarding deployment timelines, grid and regulatory bottlenecks.
The outlook for fusion will also be considered, looking at key areas for longer-term innovation, and insights from the UK Industrial Fusions Solutions STEP programme. Ways to improve nuclear safety and cybersecurity will be discussed, as well as governance and accountability in public communications as responsibilities evolve.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Business and Trade; Ministry of Defence; HM Treasury; Great British Nuclear; Environment Agency; Health and Safety Executive; Planning Inspectorate; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authroity; Government Legal Department; Skills England; National Cyber Security Centre; National Wealth Fund; Office for Investment; and the Welsh Government.
