Office for Nuclear Regulation

Category: Generic design assessment (GDA)

Previous updates relating to the generic design assessment (GDA) process for new nuclear reactor designs. To learn more about this work, including current assessments, visit ONR’s dedicated GDA webpages.

International regulators workshop on Small Modular Reactors

August 18, 2023 - Seven countries attended virtual event to share insight


ONR-ASN cooperation arrangement extended until 2028

May 5, 2023 - Bilateral agreement signed by ONR and French regulator


Our People – Helen Norris, Regulatory Programme Manager

April 20, 2023 - Helen works as a Regulatory Programme Manager


Rolls-Royce SMR design progresses to next step of Generic Design Assessment

April 3, 2023 - News statement available in English and Welsh


GDA of Rolls Royce SMR Limited’s 470MW Small Modular Reactor design

April 1, 2022 - The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR,) the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), began Step 1 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for Rolls-Royce SMR Limited’s 470MW Small Modular Reactor design at the start of April, 2022. This followed a request from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to begin a […]


Request to begin Small Modular Reactor design assessment

March 7, 2022 - The Office for Nuclear Regulation, along with the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, have been asked to begin a Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for Rolls Royce SMR Ltd’s 470MW Small Modular Reactor design. The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made the request to the regulators following its readiness review of the Rolls Royce application. This review […]


Regulators complete UK HPR1000 design assessment

February 7, 2022 - The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency have confirmed that the UK Hualong Pressurised Water Reactor (UK HPR1000) is suitable for construction in the UK, subject to the necessary licensing, planning permission and environmental permits, following completion of their in-depth assessment of the nuclear reactor design. The UK HPR1000 is based on […]