Progress on plans for an underground nuclear waste facility off the Cumbrian coast has slowed following a government spending review, regulators have revealed.
The Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) have also raised concerns about whether Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has sufficient staff and expertise to deliver the next stage of the programme.
Their joint annual report, published on October 19, says NWS had to revise its programme following the Government's 2025 Spending Review.
The findings come as Mid Copeland and South Copeland, the only two communities remaining in the search for a suitable location, continue to await a government decision on detailed geological investigations.
The regulators say they will require assurances that NWS retains sufficient expertise and capacity amid workforce reductions across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group.
Responding to questions from the News & Star, NWS confirmed it had reduced its workforce but did not specify how many positions had been lost.
It said the NDA group had committed to reducing running costs to direct more funding towards frontline decommissioning and reducing nuclear hazards.
A spokesperson said: "NWS has focused resources where they add most value and has seen a reduction in headcount, while remaining committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, security and environmental protection."
Asked whether the Spending Review had affected the timetable for site investigations or development, NWS said: "This has not resulted in changes to the GDF siting process."
Regulatory inspection postponed
The report also reveals that the Environment Agency has postponed its first permit-readiness inspection, originally scheduled for 2025, until the second half of 2026–27 because of programme delays.
NWS said it was continuing to prepare for the inspection but did not provide a specific date.
The regulators do not expect an environmental permit application for intrusive site investigations until at least two years after any government decision to proceed with that work.
NWS confirmed that it submitted its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in May and was still awaiting a response.
The proposed Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) would permanently dispose of the UK's most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, with potentially suitable geology identified beneath the seabed off the Copeland coast.
NWS GDF executive director Simon Hughes welcomed the report.
He said: "NWS appreciates and values the continued engagement and oversight provided by the Environment Agency (EA) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)."
"The Report identifies NWS' good progress across a number of areas including the GDF siting process, design and safety cases while also making sure that its disposability assessments and GDF development remain current and consistent."
The report also notes that neither regulator was invited to community partnership events or NWS-organised events in Cumbria during the reporting year.
NWS said the partnerships were aware of the regulators' offer to meet members and would welcome their involvement at an appropriate stage.
