The first quarterly report for 2011 from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency (EA) has been released.

The ONR was formed to bring together the nuclear regulatory actions of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with the Department for Transport.

Nick Baldwin, the former chief executive of Powergen, has been appointed as the agency’s interim Chair.

The Quarterly Progress Report confirmed the timetable for the assessment of nuclear reactor designs, which will be reviewed within the generic design assessments (GDAs).

These GDAs will be due once Dr Mike Weightman has given his report on the impact for UK nuclear after the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant to the Government. His initial findings are expected in May 2011 followed by a final report in September 2011.