ONR

UK and Swedish nuclear regulators have taken a significant step towards international collaboration on small modular reactor deployment, with a workshop supported by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, designed to accelerate the safe rollout of the technology across both countries.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has published the UK National Action Plan in response to a European-wide review of fire protection at nuclear installations. This work is part of the second European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) Topical Peer Review (TPR2), with the subject of fire protection chosen due to its potential to challenge safety systems.

Laing O'Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics, operating as Bylor JV have complied with a fire enforcement notice issued following the discovery of significant shortfalls at the Hinkley Point C nuclear construction site where they are delivering the main civil engineering works. Bylor JV has now demonstrated to the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) that it has suitable systems in place to manage fire risks effectively.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has extended two improvement notices on contractors Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS and Laing O'Rourke Delivery Limited, operating as partners in the BYLOR joint venture, following an incident at the Hinkley Point C construction site. The notices were served in June 2026 after a formwork panel fell approximately 29 metres which left a worker with serious injuries at the site in Somerset.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has published refreshed guidance to help operators comply with the updated Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The amended regulations came into effect in July and represent a significant update to the UK's nuclear safeguards regime. Nuclear safeguards are measures to verify that countries comply with international obligations not to use nuclear materials from civil nuclear programmes for non-peaceful purposes.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has played a key role in the development of an international toolkit designed to support collaboration between nuclear regulators reviewing advanced reactor technologies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published the Nuclear Harmonisation and Standardisation Initiative (NHSI) Regulatory Cooperation Toolkit, a major output from NHSI Phase II (2025–2026).

The UK's nuclear sector is changing at pace. Nuclear is playing an increasingly central role in delivering economic growth, energy security and national resilience and the demands on ONR as a regulator have never been greater. Our Corporate Plan for 2026/27 sets out how we will meet those demands. It translates our new strategy, ONR Together, into specific, measurable commitments for the year ahead, giving a clear line of sight from our mission to delivery.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation's (ONR) Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26 reflects a year of continued strong regulatory delivery, organisational development, and commitment to our new mission of ensuring safe nuclear for a secure and sustainable future. Overseeing sustained improvements at sites subject to enhanced and significantly enhanced regulatory attention. Continuing our work to influence timely hazard and risk reduction at Sellafield.

A spokesperson for the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said: "We regulate in an enabling manner, working constructively with EDF on their plans to extend the life of their nuclear plants by reviewing technical and safety case considerations while ensuring it achieves the required standards of safety and security in the most practical way.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) yesterday took part in the first meeting of the Nuclear Regulatory Implementation Panel (NRIP) - a significant milestone in the UK's programme to reform and modernise nuclear regulation. NRIP was established following the government's acceptance of all 47 recommendations made by the independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, led by John Fingleton.