Developing a Community Vision

One of the key roles of the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership is to create a Community Vision. This involves working with local people to consider how you would like your community to evolve, and whether a Geological Disposal Facility could play a part in that.

Through creating a Community Vision, we can identify and plan for the potential significant long-term investment a GDF could bring if it was sited here, and align with local aspirations and regional development plans.

Significant Additional Investment

The government has committed to providing multi-million-pound Significant Additional Investment to the community that hosts a GDF.

This investment could include improved local education and skills capacity, enhanced transport infrastructure, or improved recreational facilities.

The investment would help to bring a Community Vision to life.

So far, we’ve delivered household surveys, attended local events with display boards shaped by your feedback, and held focus groups.

There are three emerging themes:

  1. Transport: “We need better road and rail links.”
  • Improve infrastructure to enable better access to local towns
  • Improve public transport to jobs, health and leisure facilities
  • Improve existing roads

2. Economy and employment: “Opportunities to retain our youth in the area or attract them back.”

  • Opportunities for small and medium enterprises
  • Employment and skills for young people
  • GDF to employ local people

3. Health and social care: “Care and health services are too far away.”

  • Services to support older people
  • Better access to health facilities, e.g., GP, dentist, and mental health services
  • Local access to specialist hospital treatment

The developing Vision Statement for South Copeland:

A well-connected and thriving community with efficient transport links, accessible health services, and a strong, diverse economy that supports all residents.

What’s next?

This is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation about South Copeland’s future. Your input will continue to shape the Community Vision as it evolves, alongside existing local and regional development plans. This will help guide future decisions if a GDF is built here.

The Community Partnership will keep you informed and create plenty of opportunities for you to have your say.