LONDON, March 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
TheEnvironment Agency,Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and Natural Resources Wales (NRW)can confirmthat theHoltec SMR-300nuclear reactor design has successfully completed Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA).
Step 2beganinAugust 2024and involved acomprehensive and rigorousregulatoryassessmentexaminingthe fundamental adequacy of thereactordesign and its safety, security,safeguardsand environmental protection documentation.
The assessment has concluded with the issuing of two GDA statementssettingoutthe regulators'conclusions on theHoltec SMR-300and its supporting documentation.
Regulators have confirmedthattheir assessmentshaveidentifiedno fundamental safety, security,safeguardsor environmental protection shortfalls with the design thatwouldprevent its deployment inEngland and Wales
Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency's New Reactors Programme Manager, said:
This is an important milestone for the Holtec SMR-300 project and is a great demonstration of the effective collaboration between Holtec and theregulators.
Based on our assessment across all topic areas, we have found no fundamental environmental protection shortfalls at this stage in the development of the SMR-300, that could prevent the design from being acceptable for future deployment in England or Wales.
As the environmental regulator of nuclear sites and radioactive substances in England, the Environment Agency ensures that nuclear companies and the sites they operate meet high standards of environmental protection throughout the stages of design, construction, operation and decommissioning.
Tim Parkes, ONR's Head of theHoltec SMR-300GDA, said:
Our assessment covered 21 technical topic areas, and we have notidentifiedany fundamental shortfalls.
Throughout the GDA process, Holtec hasdemonstratedan open-minded and constructive approach that has been instrumental in enabling us to complete our assessment across all areas. Where aspects of the design, safety case, and methodologies require further development, these have been captured in 14 regulatory observations.
Holtec has engaged positively with each of these observations, demonstrating a clear commitment to resolution. We are confident that their resolution plans, ifimplemented effectively, will address these observations and support a future design and safety case.
Paul Gibson, Natural Resources Wales Nuclear Team Leader, said:
Throughout Step 2 we have worked closely with the Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation towards the fundamental assessment oftheHoltec International - SMR-300,resulting in the successful delivery of this two-step GDA.
In September 2025 Holtec, in partnership with EDFEnergyandTritax, announced plans to construct the SMR-300 at Cottam in Nottinghamshire. At present Holtec and its partnershave not asked usto carry outStep 3ofGDA. Shouldconstruction plans progress, the regulatorswill continue to engage with Holtec and its partners, as they prepare the design,safety,security &safeguards andenvironmentsafety case,site licence application, and environmental permit applications.
Before the Holtec SMR-300canbe deployed inEngland and Wales, the regulators willneed to undertake a further period of detailed assessment before safety-significant constructioncanbegin and environmental permits be issued.
The GDA process enables regulators to assess new nuclear power station designs at an early stage of the regulatory process and to provide confidence that thesenew designscan be constructed,operated, and decommissioned inEngland and Wales.
Read the reports and find outmore about the GDA process.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
