This year, the UK Government has signalled it is moving from development into delivery of its nuclear policies. In this article, Brevia Energy outlines the key advancements that have been made thus far, and the implications for industry stakeholders. Brevia Energy is a dedicated division of Brevia Consulting, a public relations and public affairs agency. If your company would appreciate a briefing on the implications for your organisation, get in touch with the Brevia team today.
Recap of Activity This Year
- February: publication of the Advanced Nuclear Framework to create a clearer route to market for privately led advanced nuclear projects.[1]
- March: launch of a new fusion strategy, backed by more than £2.5 billion of funding over five years.[2]
- April: contracts signed between Great British Energy – Nuclear and Rolls-Royce SMR, and work began on the UK’s first three small modular reactors at Wylfa in Wales.[3]
- May: announced major nuclear planning and regulatory reforms through the Nuclear Regulation Bill, set out in the King’s Speech.[4]
Political and Market Context
Despite Government backing, nuclear sits in a politically and economically contested position within the UK’s energy strategy. Large-scale nuclear projects remain subject to scrutiny over cost, delivery timelines and value for money – particularly given historic delays and overruns associated with major infrastructure projects, such as the Hinkley Point C development in Somerset.[5] These risks are politically significant, as levies on energy costs come under increasing scrutiny, raising broader questions about affordability, especially with the introduction of the Nuclear Regulated Asset Base to bills.[6]
The politics of the nuclear renaissance are also shaped by territorial and ideological divisions within the UK. Although both Reform UK and the Conservative Party advocate for nuclear generation to play a more expansive role in the UK’s energy system, devolved administrations have adopted more cautious approaches. The Scottish National Party continues to oppose the development of new nuclear facilities in Scotland, while Plaid Cymru has limited its support to projects located on existing nuclear sites in Wales.[7], [8] As a result, future expansion of nuclear capacity is shaped not only by national energy policy, but also by questions of regional autonomy, public consent, and uneven political support across the UK.
At the same time, wider geopolitical and energy security concerns have reinforced the political case for maintaining domestic nuclear capability. In the context of volatile international energy markets and heightened concern over dependence on overseas supply chains, nuclear is increasingly framed by policymakers as both an energy and national resilience asset. Consequently, current policy reflects an attempt to reconcile three core objectives in a constrained fiscal environment: achieve net zero targets, ensure long-term security of supply, and maintain energy affordability.
What This Means for Industry Stakeholders
In 2026 thus far, developments indicate that Government policy is increasingly focused on moving the UK nuclear sector from strategic ambition towards large-scale delivery and commercial implementation.
A central feature of this approach is improving investor confidence. Recent policy measures point towards a Government seeking to reduce barriers to deployment through planning reform, regulatory streamlining and clearer market frameworks, thereby lowering project risk and improving the bankability of future nuclear developments.
To support this investment mobilisation, there is a growing focus on workforce capacity, domestic supply chains and industrial resilience. Skills development and job creation are increasingly framed not simply as economic benefits of nuclear expansion, but as strategic requirements for sustaining a long-term domestic nuclear programme, bringing local benefits and supporting the broader transition to net zero.
In parallel, nuclear is increasingly positioned not only as a low-carbon energy source, but as a strategic asset capable of supporting energy sovereignty and grid resilience amid a more volatile geopolitical environment. These developments are unfolding within the wider context of the UK’s net zero transition and rapidly rising pressures on the electricity system, such as from increasing data centre demand. Against this backdrop, the forthcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is likely to become a significant indicator of how the Government intends to integrate nuclear deployment within the broader future energy system.
The Government is also attempting to position the UK as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technologies. This emphasis on innovation, commercialisation and domestic technological capability suggests that nuclear policy is now being used not only to address energy needs, but also as a broader industrial strategy aimed at securing future economic competitiveness and technological leadership.
Taken together, these developments suggest a significant opportunity for industry stakeholders to engage proactively with the Government to support the shaping of the sector’s future.
Brevia Energy is a dedicated division of Brevia Consulting, a public relations and public affairs agency, and has a longstanding reputation for its expertise and experience in the Energy Sector. To organise a discussion with Brevia Energy on how we can help you and your organisation, please get in touch today. You can also contact the Brevia Energy Team on 020 7091 1650 or email contact@brevia.co.uk
[1] UK Government, Advanced nuclear framework, 4 February 2026, Link
[2] UK Government, UK fusion strategy 2026, 16 March 2026, Link
[3] UK Government, Great British Energy – Nuclear and Rolls-Royce SMR sign contract, 13 April 2026, Link
[4] UK Government, The King’s Speech 2026, 13 May 2026, Link
[5] The Guardian, Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn, 20 February 2026, Link
[6] The Telegraph, Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will add £1bn a year to energy bills, 28 November 2025, Link
[7] Scottish Nationalist Party, What is the SNP’s position on nuclear energy?, ND, Link
[8] BBC News, Plaid would only back new nuclear at existing sites, 24 June 2024, Link
