Journey to a GDF
A Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) is a facility designed to safely and securely dispose of the most hazardous radioactive waste in highly engineered vaults and tunnels deep underground. The GDF programme requires Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) to find both a suitable site and a willing community and is still in the early stages.
What is a Geological Disposal Facility?
GDFs are internationally recognised by governments, technical experts and scientists as the best solution for the safe, permanent disposal of our most radioactive waste.
NWS is the developer of a GDF and, as part of its process to evaluate the two Community Partnership Search Areas in Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria, NWS will gather data to understand if an area could be suitable to host a GDF.
NWS will evaluate each potential site, through its site evaluation process, to establish its suitability based on six siting factors: safety and security, community, environment, engineering feasibility, transport, and value for money.
Detailed studies and investigations will be conducted over a number of years to help ensure a GDF can be constructed, operated, and closed safely and securely. These will then inform NWS’ decision on identifying a suitable site for a GDF. Find out more about the timescale and activities in the guidance What is the Timescale for the GDF Programme?
“We are acquiring a significant amount of data through our studies and investigations. All of it needs to be assessed and analysed.
“Once we have a clear picture of the findings, we will share progress and updates with the Community Partnerships and the public.”
Simon Hughes, NWS Siting and Communities Director
Watch our Journey to GDF video
Timeline of a GDF
A Willing Community
A GDF will only be built where there is both a suitable site and a willing community. The community must have given consent to hosting a facility in a Test of Public Support (ToPS).
A ToPS is designed to determine a final view from a community as to whether they are willing to host a GDF. It would only be taken after extensive community engagement and once the community has had time to ask questions, raise concerns and learn about a GDF.
The UK Government’s policy seeks to build community support for a GDF through open and transparent engagement, in a community consent-based siting process. Find out more about What is a Test of Public Support? (ToPS)
Learn more about the GDF Siting Process
