As the UK prepares for a new generation of nuclear power plants, The Energy Industry Times analyzes its preparation and what others might learn from a country that boasts a long and solid nuclear history.  The article discusses how the UK hopes that its detailed approach will not only guarantee the implementation and operation of safe designs but will also help avoid the construction delays and cost overruns seen at the Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) plant being built in Finland by Areva. Michael Kruse, Partner and Head of the Central European Energy & Utilities Practice at Arthur D. Little is quoted as saying, “At OL3 not all issues – such as I&C for example – had been fixed, which caused delays due to the Finnish regulator STUK not accepting the design. There have been challenges in managing the design requirements. During the construction phase, new design and safety requirements have been imposed on Areva. Also the safety and design criteria, as well as relevant technical standards, were not clarified early enough. There was a lack of transparency on how requirements at plant level would be translated into the design of systems, structures and components, which caused acceptance issues after they were installed. It was also not clear which regulatory approvals would be needed during the project (hold points), and which were known and understood by the licensee and vendor.” Kruse noted that for the owner it is crucial to have an “agile” organisation that is able to cope with design changes and manage the regulator supply chain interface to prevent the schedule slipping.