Starmer to 'push past nimbyism' in pledge to expand nuclear power sites

Keir Starmer will unveil a historic expansion in nuclear power across England and Wales, pledging to use Labour's massive majority to make new sites across the country available for new power stations.

- Jessica Elgot Jasper Jolly

The prime minister also issued a call to tech giants to work with the government to build small modular reactors (SMRs) - technology that has not yet been produced at scale - that would power energy-intensive AI datacentres across Britain.

Vowing to "push past nimbyism", he warned his new rural and suburban MPs that he would "break through" if there was resistance and use his party's big majority to ensure there could be no dissent.

The prime minister said the anticipated smaller reactors could be built by 2032 and could become commonplace across Britain. He hinted the government was keen to offer consumers lower bills if they lived close to new obtrusive nuclear construction.

For the first time, the government would allow nuclear projects to be built outside the eight designated nuclear sites - meaning sites could be built anywhere in the country. Planning reforms would also pave the way for the building of SMRs, which Starmer said had been near impossible under previous rules.