Three communities engaged in GDF programme – one of the largest environmental protection programmes in the UK.
Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has published its 2024 Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Report detailing progress of the GDF siting process.
The UK has benefitted from a world-leading nuclear sector for many decades, and the GDF programme is crucial part of NWS’s vision to make nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner.
GDFs are internationally recognised as the best solution for the safe and permanent disposal of the most hazardous radioactive waste. A GDF is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and one of the largest environmental protection programmes in the UK and underpins the drive for energy security and climate change commitments by enabling new nuclear energy.
The 2024 report highlights that there are three communities across England, two in Cumbria, Mid Copeland and South Copeland, and one in Lincolnshire around Theddlethorpe, who are engaging in the programme to learn what hosting a GDF could mean for them.
This programme is unique in the UK, in that it requires explicit community support to go ahead – and we are working to ensure people have access to the information they need to make an informed decision.
For a GDF, alongside a willing host community, we also require a suitable site. We have started and progressed a range of studies and surveys.
The emerging data is helping NWS to identify locations for further investigative work, such as drilling deep boreholes, to understand the geology and help ensure a GDF can be constructed, operated, and closed safely and securely. Early analysis shows that the areas that are part of the process all have potential to host a GDF.
Communities benefit from early funding while engaging in the process – and the report highlights how more than £7 million has supported a range of projects in Cumberland and Lincolnshire. The projects include support for the Winter Warmth Fund and the Bootle and District First Responders in South Copeland, a grant for the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team in Mid Copeland, and community initiatives, including an adventure playground, in Theddlethorpe.
The community which is eventually selected to host a GDF will also benefit from Significant Additional Investment potentially worth many millions of pounds. This investment would be shaped by a local community vision and could include local education and skills capacity, transport infrastructure or recreational facilities. The programme will also create thousands of jobs and real economic growth for the host community for many decades.
NWS CEO Corhyn Parr said:
“We’re proud to be delivering the GDF programme to protect people and our environment and take responsibility for future generations.
“We’re making great progress, engaging with three communities and working to ensure people have access to the information they need to make an informed decision. Our site evaluation work is also progressing, and early analysis shows that the areas involved have the potential to host a GDF.
“Looking ahead, we’re excited to hear the ideas for long-term investment plans and community visions from local people and stakeholders, while our site evaluation work will continue and help inform decisions on the communities to move forward in the process.”
View the full report here.