The Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR) Annual Report and Accounts covering 2024/2025 provides a summary of regulatory, organisational and financial performance, as well as governance information. It explains how ONR regulated effectively across its purposes and the nuclear lifecycle.
Organisational achievements include:
· completing planned Generic Design Assessments (GDA) steps for three separate reactor technologies;
· granting a nuclear site licence to Sizewell C;
· overseeing construction at Hinkley Point C;
· engaging with multiple vendors for new market entrants, supported by our newly-published guidance;
· focus on returning sites to routine regulatory attention, with successful outcomes for AWE Aldermaston, Springfields and Sellafield (physical security);
· the close out of the Post Implementation Review recommendations;
· completing safety case assessments and lifetime extension proposals for ageing Advanced Gas Reactors (AGR) and graphite cores;
· completing key work in support of critical nuclear defence projects, including innovative permissioning of submarine dockings to reduce timescales;
· delivering a suite of approvals and compliance inspections as the GB Competent Authority for the safe transport of radioactive material; and
· enabling the development of an IAEA Safeguards training centre at Capenhurst to detect diversion techniques and covert development of weaponisable material.
Dr Nicki Crauford, ONR Chair said: "This year, we are please to have realised our commitment to improve collaboration, cooperation, proportionality and consistency across our purposes, effectively addressing the themes identified in our most recent CNI Annual Report on the performance of the nuclear industry.
“This was achieved through the streamlining and reduction of regulatory controls, embedding of mature regulatory intelligence processes, and the completion of the Organisational Review project.
"Internally, as we moved through a significant period of change, we continued to focus on inclusive leadership, culture, capability and capacity both within ONR, and externally, through skills analysis, succession planning, leadership and regulatory development programmes.
“Work has already begun on our strategy to 2030, with our published short interim strategy to bridge the gap and provide clarity on direction now available.”
Mike Finnerty, ONR’s Chief Executive/Chief Nuclear Inspector said:
“This annual report highlights the valuable work delivered by our people, in a dynamic operating environment. Under Mark Foy’s leadership as Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, ONR has ensured the UK’s nuclear facilities have continued to operate safely and securely, and he has been instrumental in promoting and enhancing nuclear safety standards, domestically and internationally.
“I am looking forward to leading the organisation in our ambition to be a more modern, agile and highly performing organisation.”
The ONR Annual Report and Accounts was formally laid in Parliament today by the Department for Work and Pensions, ONR’s government sponsorship body.