Keir Starmer is making it clear—he wants the UK to start building, and fast.

Borrowing a phrase inspired by Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” slogan, the Prime Minister declared, “Build, baby, build,” as he outlined his government’s plan to cut through red tape and speed up the construction of nuclear power plants.

His main target? The lengthy, complicated planning rules that have slowed down major infrastructure projects for years.

By removing bureaucratic roadblocks, Starmer hopes to put the UK at the forefront of nuclear energy, ensuring cleaner, more reliable, and affordable power for the future.

Clearing the Path for Mini-Nuclear Reactors

One of the biggest changes coming with this plan is the push for small modular reactors (SMRs)—compact nuclear power stations that can be built faster and at a lower cost than traditional plants.

Currently, strict planning regulations make it difficult to get these projects off the ground, but the government wants to change that.

New proposals would scrap outdated restrictions and prioritize nuclear development, even if it means pushing past opposition from local communities, often labeled as “NIMBYs” (Not In My Backyard).

When asked in an interview whether he supports the phrase “build, baby, build,” Starmer didn’t hesitate. “I say build, baby, build,” he responded.

“We’re going to take on the blockers so we can build… we’re already changing the rules on planning to make sure infrastructure can be built more quickly.”

Nuclear Power Takes Center Stage in the Budget

The Prime Minister confirmed that nuclear energy would be a key focus in the upcoming spending review.

He described the reforms as a “gamechanger” and emphasized their importance in helping Britain become a leader in clean energy.

“We’ve got five big priorities, one of them is clean power by 2030, and nuclear is part of that mix,” Starmer explained during a visit to Lancashire.

“So, as we go into the spending review, that will be really, really important.”

This marks the first major government statement on nuclear energy since 2011—something Starmer called “long overdue.”

Breaking Decades of Delay

Ministers argue that Britain has fallen behind in the race for cleaner and more affordable energy, with the last nuclear power station built in 1995.

To accelerate progress, the government is introducing major changes, including:

Adding mini-nuclear power stations to the national planning rules for the first time
Removing the current set list of eight sites where nuclear plants can be built, allowing more flexibility
Scrapping expiration dates on nuclear planning rules
Establishing a Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce to oversee and speed up approvals

Will Local Communities Have a Say?

Despite the push for rapid development, Energy Minister Michael Shanks insists that local communities won’t be left out of the conversation.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he emphasized that people will still have a voice in the planning process.

“We need to build the infrastructure of the future.

If for no other reason than we know demand for electricity is going to increase significantly in the coming years, we have to meet that demand,” Shanks explained.

However, he also acknowledged that the current system isn’t working for anyone—not the government, investors, or local communities—because projects take far too long to move forward.

With these new reforms, the UK is taking a bold step toward a future powered by nuclear energy.

The question now is whether Starmer’s “build, baby, build” approach will deliver the rapid progress he envisions.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn