The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has made positive progress towards delivering two key recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce report - in a move to reduce regulatory complexity.
Following the government's recent endorsement of the Taskforce report, ONR is continuing with arrangements for a lead regulator model (Recommendation 3) for significant nuclear industry projects involving multiple regulators.
As recommended by the Taskforce, ONR is the default lead regulator within the model, working in close partnership with the Environment Agency, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator and other relevant regulators.
ONR brought together the heads of relevant regulatory bodies and convened a meeting in London for the inaugural lead regulator meeting, where terms of reference were discussed.
The new model is designed to better progress large-scale nuclear projects, providing focused leadership and reducing regulatory complexity.
Drawing on the proven success of the Sellafield G6 group - where high-level, collaboration accelerated hazard reduction and improved safety at the Cumbrian site - the lead regulator model aims to deliver similar benefits in this new era of nuclear growth.
The lead regulator is an interim step on the path to establishing the UK's first Nuclear Commission, a collective decision-making body for regulatory decisions across all relevant organisations. This will require government legislation, with the aim of the Commission being fully functioning by summer 2028.
ONR has also made significant progress on resetting safety case development between regulators and the industry (Recommendation 5) to eliminate duplication and embed simplicity.
The goal is to simplify development of safety cases and return them to their original purpose: practical and usable documents supporting dutyholders’ safe operations.
A productive forum was held last week between ONR and senior executives from site operators where clear commitments were given to simplify safety case structures and drive the cultural change needed to achieve this.
Regulators, including ONR, are now working with government on the Proportionality Action Plan, which will guide this reset, with strategic direction to be agreed this summer and new methods fully embedded by mid-2027. Oversight will be provided through the Nuclear Standards Forum and the Nuclear Regulatory Implementation Programme (NRIP).
For these two Taskforce recommendations, ONR is pleased to have met the intent of the government’s response within the scheduled timescales.
Mike Finnerty, ONR's Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, said:
"By establishing arrangements for the lead regulator model, we have moved swiftly to turn the government's ambitions into practical reality, and I am pleased how quickly our teams and fellow regulators have come together to make this happen.
"Our early discussions on resetting safety case development are reflecting genuine backing from senior leaders across the sector as we challenge long-standing practices and put simplicity and proportionality back at the heart of how we operate.
"This is a powerful signal of what is possible when we work collectively and with shared purpose as we work to accelerate delivery and reduce complexity with strong safety standards always maintained.
"This is the beginning of a journey and ONR is ready to lead that change with ambition, purpose and an unwavering commitment to safety."