Significant infrastructure projects (SIPs): the role of the Office for Nuclear Regulation

The ONR is Great Britain’s independent nuclear regulator for safety, security, and safeguards. 

ONR was established as a statutory public corporation on 1 April 2014 under the Energy Act 2013 (EA 2013). It exists to protect people by securing safe nuclear operations.

ONR delivers 5 statutory purposes to ensure safe nuclear operations now and in the long term. These are:

• nuclear safety
• nuclear site health and safety
• nuclear security
• nuclear safeguards
• safety of transport of nuclear and radioactive materials

ONR regulates nuclear safety, nuclear security and nuclear site health and safety at the 36 licensed nuclear sites in Great Britain. This includes: 

• operating reactors
• fuel cycle facilities
• waste management sites
• decommissioning sites
• licensed and, in part, authorised defence sites
• the design and construction of new nuclear facilities, including the supply chain

Because of its regulatory role, ONR takes part in and provides advice on a range of planning, consenting and development control processes.

ONR has different roles under different legislation. It may act as:

• a permissioning authority
• a regulator
• a statutory consultee
• an advisor

ONR has an advisory role in the Infrastructure Consent Order (ICO) process for) SIPs. This is particularly relevant for projects involving nuclear sites. 

Applicants should contact ONR as early as possible to discuss whether ONR may need to provide advice on their proposed SIP. 

ONR also provides technical advice to planning decision-makers on:

• the potential impact of external hazards from a SIP to a nuclear site 
• whether a SIP could increase the risk of radiological consequences to the public in a radiation emergency, for example the construction of a new nuclear power station

The safety and security of nuclear installations in Great Britain is managed through a system of regulatory control. 

This system is based on a corporate body being granted a licence to use a defined site for specified nuclear activities. 

The main legislation for regulating nuclear safety in the UK is the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (NIA 1965).

Details of the licensing regime on ONR’s website.

We encourage early engagement for new nuclear projects. ONR, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have developed a process for early regulatory engagement. This is for organisations seeking to deploy reactor technology in Great Britain.

See: Early regulatory engagement on new nuclear projects | Office for Nuclear Regulation

As well as licensing under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, ONR regulates other activities on nuclear sites including:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017
• The Control of Major Accident Hazards 2015 (jointly with Natural Resources Wales)
• The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003
• The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019

ONR is also the regulator for the transport of radioactive material for Great Britain. This applies to all locations, not only nuclear sites. 

ONR is also the regulator for nuclear safeguards for the United Kingdom.

See: What we regulate | Office for Nuclear Regulation

There are 3 important permissions needed to construct a nuclear power station in Wales: 

• planning permission/Infrastructure Consent Order/Development Consent Order (depending on the scale of the project)
• licensing from ONR
• permitting from Natural Resources Wales

Applicants should engage early with all regulators. Where possible, applicants should apply in parallel. This can help streamline the process and avoid duplication of effort.

More information on nuclear site licensing and the law is available in ONR’s guidance. See: Licensing Nuclear Installations

Further information: Office for Nuclear Regulation

Contact

Email: contact@onr.gov.uk