Budget 2026: Nuclear Ambition to Delivery

The Government’s Budget 2026 reinforces its ambition to deliver the “golden age of nuclear power in the UK”, positioning nuclear alongside wider measures aimed at strengthening energy security, reducing energy costs and supporting economic growth. 

The Budget highlights progress across the Government’s existing nuclear programme, including:

• giving the green light to Sizewell C; 

• delivering the UK’s first SMR programme; and 

• significant investment in the UK’s nuclear fusion programme. 

Perhaps the most significant development for the nuclear sector from a legal and regulatory perspective is the Government’s reinforced commitment to implement the Fingleton Nuclear Regulatory Review in full by the end of 2027. 

According to the Government, a significant number of the Review's recommendations have already been implemented, with further measures to be delivered through a new Nuclear Regulation Bill, which is expected to be introduced in early 2027. 

Nuclear as a model for wider infrastructure reform

Interestingly, the Government is looking to nuclear regulatory reform to inform the delivery of wider infrastructure projects.

The Budget highlights the Government’s intention to:

• extend the ethos and findings of the Fingleton Review across other infrastructure sectors; 

• build on the recommendation to indemnify nuclear developers by exploring whether similar indemnities can be offered to developers of other critical infrastructure projects; 

• bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity to reduce the risk that legal challenges leave essential projects in limbo; and 

• remove unnecessary consultation requirements and promote more participatory policymaking.

From nuclear ambition to nuclear delivery

Whilst the Budget does not materially change the direction of UK nuclear policy, it strengthens and reinforces the framework within which the Government's existing nuclear ambitions are to be delivered. 

Progress on Sizewell C and SMRs, supply chain investment and regulatory reform signal a clear shift from nuclear ambition to delivery. 

The detail of the Nuclear Regulation Bill and implementation of the wider Fingleton reforms will therefore be particularly important to watch as the Government seeks to translate its “golden age” of nuclear into delivery on the ground. We will be examining what these developments mean for the nuclear sector as further detail emerges in due course. 

This article was written by Laura Tobin.