Industrial perspective on SMR regulation
Posted: 15th July 2025
Ming Tan (global practice leader, nuclear: defence and civil at Mott MacDonald) If we are to truly seize this moment, we must ensure that our regulatory environment evolves in step with our ambition. The recent small modular reactor (SMR) competition led by GBE-N is a case in point. With initial five out of six shortlisted technology vendors developed from overseas – GE Hitachi, Holtec, Westinghouse, NuScale and Nuward – the UK is clearly showed to be a global magnet for nuclear innovation. Whilst the British-developed Rolls Royce UK SMR is the rightful winner, we need to continue to make the UK the most welcoming place on earth for international nuclear vendors. That starts with regulation. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) deserves credit for its rigorous and transparent approach. Its Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process is respected globally, and its collaboration with vendors has helped build trust and technical confidence. But in a world where innovation moves fast, regulation must move faster. Compared to the prescriptive regulatory process, the goal-setting principles that ONR adopts are well suited for this. Streamlining approvals, embracing parallel assessments, and harmonising standards with international partners will be key to unlocking deployment at scale. Equally important is the question of siting. The draft National Policy Statement EN-7 marks a significant and welcome shift in how the UK approaches nuclear development. By moving away from a fixed list of pre-approved sites and instead empowering developers to propose locations based on clear, criteria-led guidance, EN-7 opens the door to a wider range of opportunities for SMRs. This flexibility will be essential for integrating nuclear into local energy ecosystems and accelerating deployment across the country as well as for data-centres development. Success depends not on backing a single design, but fostering a diverse ecosystem of SMR technologies – including both Generation III and Generation IV reactors. These advanced designs offer varying strengths in terms of efficiency, fuel flexibility, waste reduction and industrial integration. By supporting multiple paths, the UK can hedge against uncertainty, drive competition, and enhance system resilience. Gen IV reactors, in particular, offer transformative potential for hydrogen production, district heating and high-temperature industrial processes – all essential to a net zero economy.
New Civil Engineer 14th July 2025