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Hello everyone.
Welcome to the latest edition of ONR News, keeping you updated about our work as the UK’s nuclear regulator for safety, security and safeguards. |
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Since our last newsletter, the government has published its Nuclear Regulatory Review, accepting all the recommendations made by the independent nuclear regulatory Taskforce report. We welcome the government’s response and have already made good progress with our own implementation work.
This includes taking significant steps in establishing the lead regulator model to provide leadership and reduce regulatory complexity (Recommendation 3), and making good headway on resetting safety case development between regulators and the industry, to eliminate duplication and embed simplicity (Recommendation 5).
The momentum in both these areas shows the real benefits of working together with a common goal - accelerating delivery, simplifying processes, and upholding rigorous safety standards throughout.
We are committed to supporting the safe and timely delivery of nuclear projects and we stand ready to work closely with industry, government and fellow regulators to help shape the future of UK nuclear regulation.
We've also made some notable announcements during the last two months, including confirming that the Holtec SMR-300 reactor has completed its Generic Design Assessment.
This was a thorough regulatory review by ONR, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, launched less than two years ago, that has fully examined the design's safety, security, safeguards, and environmental credentials, finding no fundamental shortfalls.
Meanwhile in Scotland, we were pleased to formally approve the relicensing of Hunterston B, marking the beginning of the site's decommissioning phase. The constructive engagement between our inspectors, EDF and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was central to achieving this milestone safely and on time.
As always, if you have any comments about ONR, or any of the topics included in this newsletter, please get in touch via contact@onr.gov.uk.
Best wishes
Jane Loughran Interim Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs | |
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Positive progress on nuclear Taskforce recommendations to reduce regulatory complexity |
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We have made positive progress towards delivering two key recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce report - in a move to reduce regulatory complexity. |
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Comprehensive changes made to nuclear licensing regime guidance |
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We have published the seventh revision of Licensing Nuclear Installations (LNI) - our authoritative reference document on the nuclear licensing regime - setting out the requirements for new and advanced reactor sites through to decommissioning and clean-up. |
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Holtec’s SMR-300 completes Generic Design Assessment |
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The Holtec SMR-300 nuclear reactor design has successfully completed Step 2 of our Generic Design Assessment. |
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UK fulfils all requirements of global nuclear safety convention |
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We have presented the UK’s report to an international convention to meet our commitment to maintaining high standards of nuclear safety, with us recognised for five areas of 'good practice' and four areas of 'good performance. |
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Landmark regulatory approval granted for first-ever relicensing of an EDF Advanced Gas-Cooled reactor site |
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We have formally approved the relicensing of Hunterston B in Scotland, marking the beginning of the site's decommissioning phase. |
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New guidance to help smaller licensees with lower hazard installations |
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We have issued a new technical note for smaller licensees and licence applicant organisations with lower hazard installations to help inspectors continue to regulate these sites effectively and proportionately.
Topics covered within the note include site boundaries, storage of bulk quantities of radioactive matter, compliance with licence conditions, decommissioning and organisational capability.
Trevor Chambers, former Head of Reactor Centre and Head of Nuclear Licensed Site at Imperial College London, said: “ONR has been mindful of both the challenges faced by licence applicants, and the particular challenges experienced by smaller licensees.” | |
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First court date set for Urenco site prosecution |
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The first court hearing for the prosecution of Babcock Critical Services Limited and Urenco ChemPlants Limited will take place on 7 July, 2026, at Sefton Magistrates Court, Merseyside.
Both organisations have been charged with breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following an incident at the Tails Management Facility on the Urenco UK Ltd nuclear licensed site in Cheshire.
A metal container holding almost 11 tonnes of uranium oxide powder fell from a forklift truck, striking surrounding equipment within the facility, with a small amount of uranium oxide powder being released into the facility. | |
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New topic launched for long running themed inspection |
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We have launched our new Chief Nuclear Inspector’s (CNI) themed inspection on conventional health and safety, also referred to as nuclear site health and safety.
Representatives from many of the UK's nuclear licensees attended the industry engagement day yesterday at our Merseyside headquarters as we outlined our expectations and listened to feedback for the CNI themed inspection which runs throughout 2026 and into 2027.
Themed inspections are designed to examine regulatory matters that are strategic or broader in nature than our more routine regulatory inspection activities. | |
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Stay up to date with our regulatory guidance |
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We publish regulatory guidance to support transparency and help you understand how we carry out our work.
You can now receive updates directly to your email inbox by subscribing to our RSS feed, meaning you will be notified whenever we publish new or updated guidance, without needing to check our website manually.
Add our RSS feed to your email client or feed reader using this URL:
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Short extension to Hartlepool improvement notice |
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We have granted a short extension to an improvement notice issued following a health and safety incident at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station.
In November last year, two EDF technicians were carrying out maintenance work when a joint on a system was disconnected that contained hydraulic oil under pressure which was then released, coming into contact with the workers.
We acknowledge that EDF has made progress in meeting the requirements of the notice, originally due for completion by mid-April, so an extension has been agreed to allow the company to demonstrate that suitable and full arrangements are in place. | |
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Our mission is to protect society by securing safe nuclear operations |
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