MediaResponding to the government’s changes to planning rules for Small Modular Reactors, Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said:
“Limiting the building of Small Modular Reactors to just Britain's eight designated nuclear sites would not only severely hamper the development of the technology, it would also mean the homes and industry won't be able to reap the full benefits of the clean, reliable power produced. With this change power hungry sectors such as AI data centres will be able to co-locate with new SMRs.
“The Government’s announcement that these mini nuclear power stations will be allowed to be built on a much wider list of sites, including industrial sites and former coal-fired power stations is welcome news and is a measure Britain Remade has been calling on ministers to adopt.
“Relaxing where SMRs can be built is a no-brainer, but a key test for the upcoming planning bill will be whether it tackles the rules that have made Hinkley Point C the most expensive nuclear power station in the world.”