Generic design assessment
The nuclear regulators have published guidance material on the Generic Design Assessment process for new nuclear power stations. These documents are aimed primarily at organisations intending to submit their reactor designs for assessment, but may also be helpful to other parties interested in the process.
Resources
ONR
Generic Design assessment technical guidance
Environment Agency / Natural Resources Wales
GDA's started after 2019
New nuclear power plants: Generic Design Assessment guidance for Requesting Parties (Environment Agency)
This updated guidance from the Environment Agency explains the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for organisations who want to submit a nuclear power plant design for assessment. (First published 2019, revised 2023.)
GDA's started before 2019
Process and Information Document for Generic Assessment of Candidate Nuclear Power Plants
Guidance from the Environment Agency setting out how it will assess environmental issues. (Version 1 published 2013.)
The Generic Design Assessment process also includes the requirement for a comments process at the start of Step 2. Information on this guidance is available to view.
Licensing
An organisation wishing to carry out prescribed nuclear activities must apply for, and be granted, a nuclear site licence before it starts installation of a nuclear safety-related plant. A site licence puts the licence holder under strict legal obligations and, importantly, gives specific regulatory powers to ONR to ensure the safe construction, commissioning and operation of a nuclear site. For example a licence holder would typically have to request a consent from ONR to begin nuclear safety related construction.
Environmental permits
Organisations wishing to construct and operate a new nuclear power station will need a number of environmental permits from the Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales in Wales.
Guidance and application forms relating to this process:
