Enable public and private efforts to reduce gold-plating and risk aversion
Reduce gold-plating and risk aversion
The government should explore contracting mechanisms that incentivise more proportionate solutions for delivering nuclear projects to ALARP. This should include financial incentives that place greater focus on the time, cost and trouble element of delivering ALARP.
The Chancellor should write a letter to all regulators and industry operators to:
- address the issues of gold-plating and commitments on how this can be remedied;
- identify measures which can increase their risk appetite within the law;
- what measures they are taking to communicate and drive the necessary culture change; and
- where relevant, how contractual arrangements can be modified to ensure incentives are aligned with expeditious delivery.
Responses should be provided within 6 months (i.e. September 2026).
Government Response: Chancellor's letter and proportionate ALARP contracting
The Chancellor has sent an open letter declaring nuclear a strategic national priority and setting expectations of proportionate, outcome-focused regulation. Leaders have been asked to produce six-month plans addressing gold-plating, risk appetite, culture change, and contractual alignment. The Government will also explore contracting mechanisms that incentivise proportionate ALARP solutions. This directly implements the Taskforce's recommendation for a Chancellor's letter and contracting reform, with the six-month response window creating a clear accountability checkpoint.
Primary Owner
March 2026
Notes: Govt response: Leaders to set out plans within six months (September 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.