Managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning - Consultation outcome

Published 1 March 2023

Last updated 16 May 2024 — See all updates

Managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning policy: government response

Managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning: UK policy framework

We have made a number of amendments to the draft policy framework based on the feedback, including:

• simplifying the structure and removing extraneous detail
• clarifying aspects of the policy, in particular how the policy applies to radioactive liquid and gaseous waste
• adding detail for near surface disposal facilities for the disposal of less hazardous intermediate level waste in England and Wales

The UK government and devolved administrations have published the final UK-wide policy framework on managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning, consolidating the policies of all parts of the UK.

We received 330 responses to this consultation from:

• members of the public
• local government
• nuclear site stakeholder groups
• industry
• regulators
• other interest groups

The majority of respondents were supportive of the proposals.

136 respondents raised issues that were beyond the scope of the consultation. We have provided responses to these issues too. 

We're seeking views on policy proposals for managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning.

This consultation ran from
1pm on 1 March 2023 to 11:45pm on 24 May 2023

Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on proposals to update and consolidate the policies of the UK government and devolved administrations on managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning into a single UK-wide policy framework.

The proposals aim to create clearer more consistent policy objectives across the UK and facilitate speedier and more cost-effective decommissioning and radioactive waste management, whilst maintaining high standards of safety, security and environmental protection.

The proposals focus on 3 areas:

• managing solid radioactive waste
• updating the policy for nuclear decommissioning
• managing nuclear materials and spent nuclear fuel

The consultation is in 2 parts.

Part 1 sets out policies we are proposing to amend aimed primarily at driving improvements in nuclear decommissioning and managing radioactive waste.

Part 2 is a draft of the proposed UK-wide policy framework as it would appear if the policy changes being consulted on in Part I were implemented.

Read our consultation privacy notice.

Part I: UK policy proposals for managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning

Part II: Draft UK policy framework for managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning