AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield are among five shortlisted sites where radioactive waste from decommissioned nuclear submarines could be stored for at least 25 years.

A total of 27 submarines are set to be dismantled and the radioactive waste generated needs to be stored until at least 2040 before it can be transferred to a geological disposal facility.

A three-month public consultation, which will launch on November 14, is being held to help the Ministry of Defence choose a site and to allow people to find out more about the Submarine Dismantling Project.

The other sites under consideration are Capenhurst, in Cheshire, Chapelcross, in Dumfriedshire, and Sellafield, in Cumbria.

Exhibitions will be held at all five sites. Those relating to AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield will be held at AWE Recreational Society, West Gate, Plantation Road, on November 17 from midday until 8pm; at Burghfield Common Village Hall, on November 18 from 11.30am until 7.30pm; at AWE Community Sports Association, in James Lane, Burghfield, on November 20 and January 22, 2015, from 11.30am until 7.30pm; and at Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, on November 22 between 11am and 3pm and on January 23, 2015 between 11am and 5pm.

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, said: “When the submarines in the Royal Navy fleet reach the end of their lives, we need to dispose of them in a way that is safe, secure and environmentally sound.

“This open and transparent public consultation process provides the opportunity to work closely with local communities near to potential sites to listen carefully to their views with the aim of delivering a solution that achieves these objectives.

“We value the views of those who have something to say about the submarine dismantling project. All of them will be considered properly as part of our decision-making process.

“After consultation, we will publish a report on our findings, and after we have selected a site, we will explain why we have reached that decision.”

The project will oversee the disposal of 27 Royal Navy nuclear submarines that are due to have left Naval service by the mid 2030s and be defuelled, including 19 submarines that have already left service and are stored afloat at Rosyth and Devonport.

The submarines can only be completely dismantled once reactor components, which are categorised as radioactive waste, have been removed. The initial dismantling process will support up to 60 skilled jobs.