Streamline the conventional planning regime via Special Development Orders
Streamline planning via SDOs
MHCLG should allow developers of nuclear development and decommissioning projects to apply for a Special Development Order. This route should be optional, with a fixed government decision deadline of six months from application submission.
Government should legislate that there should be an automatic grant of planning permission if no decision is made within 8 weeks for applications which continue to be made to local authorities.
It should, using powers under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, restrict the refusal of planning applications for nuclear and nuclear-related development which continue to be made to local authorities.
Government Response: SDO route and PIA direction power confirmed
Nuclear projects can already apply for Special Development Orders. The Planning and Infrastructure Act introduces a new power for NSIP applicants to request a direction out of the NSIP regime for appropriate projects. The Government does not accept automatic consent after eight weeks for local authority applications, but will consult on expanding the consultation direction for refusal notification. The core SDO pathway is available, though the automatic consent backstop the Taskforce recommended has been rejected.
Primary Owner
Co-owners
Taskforce target: June 2026
Sectors
Domains
The content in this tracker is partially AI-generated based on the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce report. We have worked hard to ensure it is accurate, but some of the titles, descriptions, etc. may be slightly different or truncated. If you find any errors or inaccuracies, please report them to us.