‘Door remains open’ for new communities to join.
UK government body Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has decided not to take Allerdale in Cumbria, northwest England, further in the UK’s geological disposal facility (GDF) siting process due to limited suitable geology.
NWS said it had been engaging with the Allerdale community about the potential for hosting a disposal repository for the UK’s most radioactive waste.
As part of this process NWS obtained existing data and undertook assessments to understand if six siting factors – safety and security, community, environment, engineering feasibility, transport and value for money – could be supported if a GDF were sited in Allerdale.
“Following a comprehensive and robust evaluation of information it was concluded only a limited volume of suitable rock was identifiable and the geology in the area was unlikely to support a post closure safety case,” a statement said.
“NWS has therefore taken the decision not to take Allerdale further in the search for a suitable site to host a GDF.”
NSW said finding a suitable site and a willing community, along with securing the necessary consents and permits, could take about 15 years.
The assessment of three other potential sites is continuing and “the door also remains open” for new communities to join the process, it added.
The three potential sites still being assessed are Cumbria, Mid-Copeland and South-Copeland in Cumbria and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire, eastern England.