Fingleton - speeding up licensing

Posted: 20th September 2026

The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency have informed ministers of the changes they have already made or intend to make in order to speed up the licensing process for new nuclear technologies and construction projects.

World Nuclear News 17th Sept 2026

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/uk-nuclear-regulators-set-out-plans-to-implement-reforms
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has set out a significant programme of reform designed to speed up nuclear project delivery across the UK, in response to a letter from the Chancellor on the implementation of the Nuclear Regulatory Review. In his reply, ONR’s Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, Mike Finnerty, describes how the regulator is transforming its approach to keep pace with a rapidly growing nuclear sector, while continuing to maintain strong safety, security and safeguards standards, protecting people and the public. Central to this transformation is ONR Together, the regulator’s new rolling strategy for becoming a more modern, agile and productive organisation. ONR has taken concrete steps to turn this ambition into practice, including the creation of a Lead Nuclear Regulator Group to improve coordination between regulators and resolve issues earlier in major programmes, and an Industry CEO Forum bringing together senior leaders from across government, industry and regulation to tackle the behaviours that contribute to unnecessary delay.

ONR 13th Sept 2026

https://www.onr.org.uk/news/all-news/2026/09/onr-sets-out-major-reform-programme-to-accelerate-safe-delivery-of-uks-nuclear-ambitions