The government body responsible for the UK’s project to develop a deep geological repository for the country’s most hazardous radioactive waste is “making significant progress at a good pace”, but has said construction is unlikely to begin for another 10 to 15 years.

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), which is part of the government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said in an update on the project it is analysing emerging data from surveys to help identify locations for further investigative work.

That work could include drilling deep boreholes, to understand the geology and help ensure a repository can be built, operated and closed safely and securely

There are three communities across England Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire, which are engaging in the programme to learn what hosting a repository could mean for them.