NPS for Nuclear Power Above 1GW Single Reactor Capacity Beyond 2025: Siting Criteria & Process

Overview

Government continues to believe that new nuclear power has an important role to play in the UK’s future energy mix, alongside other low-carbon energy sources.

National Policy Statements (NPS) establish the case for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, as defined in the Planning Act 2008. The current nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-6) provides the framework for development consent decisions on applications for new nuclear power stations expected to deploy by the end of 2025.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is considering the planning framework for nuclear power generation for the long term by starting work toward a new National Policy Statement (NPS) for Nuclear Power Generation for deployment between 2026 and the end of 2035.

The first step towards this new NPS is to consult on the process and criteria for designating potentially suitable sites for the deployment of new nuclear power stations with over 1GW of single reactor electricity generating capacity deploying between 2026 and the end of 2035.  This consultation sets out the process and the updated high level criteria used to assess potentially suitable sites.

Why your views matter

The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the process and criteria to designate potentially suitable sites for the deployment of new nuclear power stations as part of a draft NPS for Nuclear Power Generation for deployment between 2026 and the end of 2035.

How to respond

You can respond using the online survey (see below).

If you would prefer not to respond online, you can respond by post to:

Nuclear Policy Framework Team

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

3rd Floor

1 Victoria Street

London

SW1A 2AW

What happens next

There will be a further consultation on a new NPS during mid-late 2018, which will build upon the outcome of this consultation.