Build It Better: Why Nuclear Regulatory Reform Is Key to Britain’s Energy Future 

By Nigel Cann, CEO, Sizewell C  

Britain needs an energy system that will support households and businesses for generations. Nuclear is a critical part of this and one of most direct ways the UK can improve energy security and reduce the UK’s exposure to volatile global fossil-fuel markets.  

If the UK wants cleaner, more secure, and more resilient energy, we must build better, faster, and cheaper – while not compromising on safety. And that is why Nuclear Regulatory Reform is so important.   

When I spoke to Michael Shanks MP, Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, this week, I was proud to say Sizewell C fully supports the ambition of the government to drive forward Nuclear Regulatory Reform. I was also proud to say that at Sizewell C we aren’t waiting for legislation to take action.  

The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, led by John Fingleton, was established to examine how the UK’s regulatory system can better support the delivery of new nuclear projects. Its recommendations focus on reducing unnecessary complexity, improving coordination, and creating a more proportionate approach to regulation, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental protection.  

At Sizewell C, we are already putting many of the Taskforce’s recommendations into practice.  

Across the project, teams are simplifying processes, removing duplication, making greater use of technology, and working closely with regulators to create more efficient ways of delivering major infrastructure. The aim is straightforward: spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time delivering outcomes.  

That approach is already making a difference. Work underway across Sizewell C has identified opportunities worth an estimated £300 million to £500 million through improved productivity, reduced risk, greater certainty, and more efficient delivery.  

As my recent letter to the Chancellor set out, so much of what is needed to build better is rooted in culture and traditions. At Sizewell C, that means creating an environment where curiosity is valued, accountability matters, innovation is encouraged, and people are empowered to focus on delivery rather than bureaucracy.  

We need to build the industry the next generation deserves. People expect workplaces that trust people, encourage ownership, create opportunities early, and value fresh thinking. Interestingly, many of the same things that improve productivity also help attract and retain great people: clearer accountability, less bureaucracy, faster learning and greater openness to challenge.   

This is a significant moment in time for the nuclear sector – and we need to grasp it for the benefit of the UK. We have a once in a generation opportunity to strike a better balance between preserving the UK’s world-class safety, security, and environmental standards, while making nuclear delivery simpler, more proportionate, and more predictable – to build the best energy system that we can.  

That’s why we fully support the Nuclear Regulatory Implementation Panel, which was set up to ensure the recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Review are delivered. 

For us, building better means focusing on outcomes, simplifying how work gets done, learning from what Britain has already built, and empowering our people to make timely, pragmatic decisions. This is not about cutting corners on safety. Strong safety and better delivery go hand in hand. We want to set new industry standards for health and safety for our workforce by embracing innovation. We want to ensure nuclear safety by using proven designs and learning from others. We have a powerful advantage: we are replicating the EPR design of Hinkley Point C and will be able to contract with a supply chain that has built up expertise and experience.   

We are working closely with ONR and EA to map the standards, permits and processes used for HPC to save time, reduce duplication, and free up teams to focus on delivery. The Environment Agency’s live pilot as Sizewell C’s lead environmental regulator is already showing how better implementation of existing regulation can remove barriers to major infrastructure delivery. We are also collaborating with the ONR and EA to stop processes that add l