Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a landmark £16.7 billion investment in the UK’s nuclear energy sector, describing the move as proof the country is “back where it belongs” at the forefront of global innovation and clean energy. The funding includes £14.2 billion for the long-delayed Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk, which aims to generate low-carbon electricity for up to six million homes. An additional £2.5 billion will support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), with Rolls-Royce named as the preferred partner in the initiative.
The government claims this major investment will boost domestic energy security, cut carbon emissions, and create thousands of high-skilled jobs. The Sizewell C project alone is expected to create up to 10,000 roles, including 1,500 apprenticeships. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband hailed the plan as a stepping stone to a “golden age of clean energy abundance,” with the broader goal of lowering household energy bills and reducing the UK’s dependence on volatile global energy markets. Alongside this, the government will invest £6 billion to support the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet and an additional £2.5 billion in fusion research over five years.
While trade unions and industry stakeholders have broadly welcomed the plan, some environmental groups and local campaigners remain skeptical. Critics, such as the group Stop Sizewell C, warn of the potential ballooning costs, with some estimates placing the total project cost closer to £40 billion, and argue that the burden could ultimately fall on consumers. Nonetheless, the government maintains that nuclear power is essential to its net-zero ambitions, marking a pivotal shift toward long-term energy independence.
