Cumbria nuclear project rejected by councillors
30 January 2013 Last updated at 22:38 GMT
There is uncertainty about government plans for the long-term storage of nuclear waste.
It follows a decision by councillors in Cumbria who have voted against sighting a £12bn underground facility in the county.
Ministers say they will continue to look for a suitable area for disposing the highly radioactive waste from Britain's past, present and future nuclear power stations.
Chris Buckler reports from Sellafield.
