The Office for Nuclear Regulation, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have today published two new policies and approaches setting out how they will collectively simplify and speed up the process of assessing new nuclear reactor designs in Great Britain.
The UK government has given clear direction through the Prime Minister’s strategic steer and its acceptance of the principles of the Nuclear Regulatory Review to accelerate new nuclear deployment. The updated reactor design assessment framework and a new ‘Leveraging International Regulators' Judgements Policy’ reflect regulators' commitment to making regulatory activity more efficient, without compromising on safety standards.
The new reactor design assessment framework sets out updates to the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) that are being implemented now. It also sets the direction for a single reactor assessment framework that will bring together the existing GDA and Early Engagement processes. This aligns with the ambition of delivering reactor design assessment in two years — a reduction that will help support the deployment of new nuclear technologies in the UK. This update is designed to provide clarity to reactor vendors and support the nuclear regulators' goal of launching updated guidance in Spring 2027.
The Leveraging International Regulators' Judgements Policy sets out the principles we will follow when drawing on the work of international regulators, reducing duplication and making better use of assessments already carried out by trusted counterparts around the world. This includes work under the Transatlantic Partnership as well as collaboration with a broader range of international regulators. The policy includes case studies that demonstrate how these principles are already being applied in practice.
Together, the documents signal a significant step forward in our ambition to create a more streamlined regulatory environment that supports the UK's nuclear energy ambitions while maintaining the rigorous safety standards the public expects.