As the UK looks to invest in nuclear, here's what it could mean for Britain's environment

"When UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced last week that he was implementing the Fingleton review, you can forgive the pulse of most Britons for failing to quicken. But behind the uninspiring statement lies potentially the biggest deregulation for decades, posing peril for endangered species, if wildlife experts are to be believed, and a likely huge row with the EU."

"Earlier this year, John Fingleton, a lively, intelligent Irish economist, was commissioned by the government to lead a taskforce with a mission to come up with a way to build nuclear power faster and cheaper. It's accepted by experts that we need more nuclear if we are to meet net zero, and that Britain is the most expensive place in the world to build it."

"In the end, Fingleton turned in a review with 47 recommendations aimed at speeding up the process. So far, so snoozeworthy. However, his recommendations, if adopted, could well lead to the biggest divergence from retained EU habitat and environment law since Brexit. Changes could be made to the habitats directive, which Britain helped write when we were in the EU, and which protect rare species and the places they live."

Keir Starmer announced implementation of the Fingleton review aimed at speeding up nuclear construction. John Fingleton produced 47 recommendations to build nuclear power faster and cheaper. The recommendations could enable substantial divergence from retained EU habitat and environment law. The habitats directive could be changed, weakening protections for rare species and their habitats. The government could make judicial reviews by individuals and charities more costly, reducing legal challenges to infrastructure projects. Fingleton recommends applying the same approach to railways, reservoirs and other major infrastructure, creating broad deregulation. Legal advice warns that removing rules for nuclear will inevitably extend to other infrastructure, risking conflicts with the EU and wildlife.

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