Hugh Maxfield is a Partner at Fisher German, providing professional advice for charities and corporate and private clients on a range of property and infrastructure matters.
First joining the firm in 2008, he undertakes a range of work, including valuation of rural and residential property, acting as an expert witness, development land promotion, estate management and compulsory purchase. He has supported on several significant, national infrastructure projects during his tenure, including the Thames Tideway Tunnel and providing advice to clients in relation to the former northern leg of HS2.
Following Fisher German securing a landmark contract earlier this year with Great British Energy – Nuclear to support the UK’s first Small Modular Reactor site at Wylfa, Anglesey, North Wales, he is working as part of the infrastructure team providing expert advice during the planning and delivery phase of the project.
Nuclear power is not new to the UK. For decades this energy source has been a foundational element of our power infrastructure.
Yet today the sector stands at a pivotal moment. As many of the UK’s ageing nuclear plants near the end of their operational lives, rising energy demand, geopolitical uncertainty and net-zero commitments present an opportunity for nuclear energy to reclaim a central role in the country’s evolving energy strategy.
However, the challenges facing policymakers today are markedly different from those that defined the industry’s early decades. Nuclear power is no longer viewed solely as a source of electricity generation; it is increasingly linked to energy security, economic growth, industrial strategy and technological innovation.
Against this backdrop, the UK’s nuclear landscape is evolving rapidly. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C are intended to provide the next generation of large-scale nuclear capacity, while Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) promise to transform how nuclear energy is developed and deployed – with the first site at Wylfa, Anglesey, where Fisher German are supporting.
Coupled with renewed backing from the government and the King during his parliamentary speech earlier in the summer, the sector is entering a new era – one that could determine whether Britain secures a resilient, affordable and low-carbon energy future.
But how could this play out, and what do we need to consider on this journey?
A positive direction
While Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C naturally remain at the forefront of the UK’s nuclear agenda, the emergence of SMRs is an equally positive development.
SMRs offer a more flexible, scalable and potentially cost-effective way to expand nuclear capacity, reducing reliance on large, bespoke infrastructure projects.
The UK is uniquely positioned to lead this transition. Rolls-Royce SMR has developed a design that seeks to harness advanced manufacturing techniques and modular construction, enabling much of the reactor to be built in factories before being assembled on site.
This approach could reduce construction risks, shorten delivery timelines and provide greater certainty for investors, developers, and communities.
The government’s commitment to SMR deployment through GBE-N reflects an understanding that the future of nuclear energy must be both ambitious and adaptable.
Crucially, the UK’s SMR programme is not just an energy project but an industrial strategy.
A domestic SMR supply chain could create thousands of skilled jobs, support manufacturing communities and strengthen Britain’s position as a global exporter of nuclear technology, as demonstrated by the recent Rolls-Royce SMR agreements in Czechia and Sweden.
Taking a long-term view
While SMRs are much quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, all these projects still come with a long development timeline and cost.
In the past this has been the cause of difficulty. The original £20bn Wylfa nuclear project collapsed in late 2020 when Hitachi fully withdrew from the scheme, underlining how major nuclear schemes can be vulnerable to delays and rising costs.
Those pressures are often compounded by the stringent safety and regulatory requirements associated with nuclear development, which are widely recognised across the industry as having slowed delivery and constrained investment.
Encouragingly, this is now being addressed through the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, which has been considering recommendations to streamline regulation, improve proportionality and reduce unnecessary duplication without compromising safety. If these barriers can be unlocked, the UK will be far better placed to realise the full potential of nuclear as part of its future energy mix.
Early signs are positive. The groundwork has been laid for delivery at Wylfa, with the government’s purchase of the site putting them in a real position to spearhead the new vision through GBE-N, in partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR, as part of a wider £2.5bn SMR programme.
There will inevitably be points where further public/private investor funding is necessary. These moments will require a continued long-term mindset, recognising that while returns may not be immediate, the benefits will be felt for decades to come.
Taking a long-term view
While SMRs are much quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, all these projects still come with a long development timeline and cost.
In the past this has been the cause of difficulty. The original £20bn Wylfa nuclear project collapsed in late 2020 when Hitachi fully withdrew from the scheme, underlining how major nuclear schemes can be vulnerable to delays and rising costs.
Those pressures are often compounded by the stringent safety and regulatory requirements associated with nuclear development, which are widely recognised across the industry as having slowed delivery and constrained investment.
Encouragingly, this is now being addressed through the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, which has been considering recommendations to streamline regulation, improve proportionality and reduce unnecessary duplication without compromising safety. If these barriers can be unlocked, the UK will be far better placed to realise the full potential of nuclear as part of its future energy mix.
Early signs are positive. The groundwork has been laid for delivery at Wylfa, with the government’s purchase of the site putting them in a real position to spearhead the new vision through GBE-N, in partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR, as part of a wider £2.5bn SMR programme.
There will inevitably be points where further public/private investor funding is necessary. These moments will require a continued long-term mindset, recognising that while returns may not be immediate, the benefits will be felt for decades to come.
Building relationships locally
The long timescales involved in major infrastructure projects require sustained commitment, clear communication and positive engagement with stakeholders, residents and communities throughout the planning process.
Infrastructure providers must ensure local people are informed and understand the benefits of a scheme, whether through economic growth, supply chain opportunities, job creation or support for those directly affected.
At Fisher German, we encourage clients to prioritise compensation and benefits for landowners at an early stage.
Sometimes it’s challenging to get them to invest in this at the outset. But it’s important for them to understand that this is a sensible, important, part of the planning process. A considerate approach makes everything much easier moving forward.
Having represented both infrastructure developers and landowners, we have seen the importance of getting this right. Supporting clients affected by the northern leg of HS2 highlighted the uncertainty and disruption major schemes can create for individuals.
In Anglesey, we will focus on building a positive relationship with the local community and bringing them along on the journey. Experience has shown that meaningful engagement is one of the foundations of successful infrastructure delivery.