The UK already has 35 designated licensed nuclear sites, providing a range of existing options for new nuclear reactors.

The government’s 2011 National Policy Statement for Nuclear Power Generation (NPS) sets out its official policy on potential sites for nuclear power stations. This includes a list – which is currently under review – of existing nuclear sites which it considers suitable for the next wave of nuclear.

Although this doesn’t mean the sites are pre-approved, it does indicate strong likelihood for government approval as they have been assessed as suitable under the Strategy Siting Assessment criteria.

The current NPS already establishes Hartlepool and Wylfa, in north Wales, as strong candidates for nuclear siting alongside Hinkley Point and Sizewell.

The government expects to publish a revised list in 2025, following consultation.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Environment Agency (EA) assess the suitability of nuclear reactor designs for use in the UK using a process called the Generic Design Assessment (GDA). This looks at the environmental, safety and security aspects of a reactor design in general, separately from any specific site-related issues, to ensure a design is considered capable of meeting the UK’s high standards.

So far, four designs have passed the GDA, all for large-scale nuclear reactors. In March 2022, the government requested ONR to commence the GDA process for the Rolls-Royce SMR, a 470MW design.

The government is already taking steps to remove barriers to entry into the GDA stage of development. In May 2022, it launched the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund (FNEF) to provide up to £120million to help mature potential nuclear projects go through the process.

To help accelerate advanced modular reactors (AMRs), the government is also running an AMR Research, Development and Demonstration Programme. With a phased programme of innovation funding, it aims to demonstrate a High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) technology by the early 2030s.