Lincolnshire County Council is preparing to exit discussions over hosting a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for the UK’s nuclear waste. This move would formally end the county’s involvement in a multi-year siting process led by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS).
A council scrutiny board has recommended withdrawing from the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership, with a final decision expected from the Executive on 3 June. This follows East Lindsey District Council’s decision to pull out in April.
The partnership, established in 2021, was initially focused on repurposing a former gas terminal near Theddlethorpe. However, in early 2025, NWS shifted its proposed location inland, targeting undeveloped countryside between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton, triggering opposition and claims of inadequate community engagement.
Lincolnshire is one of three areas under consideration for the underground repository, alongside Mid and South Copeland in Cumbria. A recent geological assessment highlighted Lincolnshire’s clay formations as highly suitable for long-term waste isolation. Nonetheless, public sentiment in the area has turned against the project, with community surveys indicating strong opposition.
Under the GDF programme, host communities are eligible for up to £1 million in annual government funding during the siting phase, with over £2 million already allocated to local initiatives in Lincolnshire. However, ongoing concerns about transparency, shifting site plans, and long-term uncertainty have led local representatives to question the benefits of continued involvement.
NWS maintains that community consent is a prerequisite for any development and has pointed to international precedents, such as Canada’s recent GDF siting process, to justify the timeline and complexity. Still, if Lincolnshire formally exits next week, the agency will be left with just the two Cumbrian sites in active evaluation.
