More than 25,000 tonnes of material have been used to safely backfill the basement structure of a demolished turbine hall at the Dungeness A site.
Originally constructed in 1965, the turbine hall stood 26 metres above ground level and housed four turbogenerators that converted nuclear heat into electricity for the National Grid. Following demolition of the turbine hall a decade ago, a large basement void remained, which has now been safely filled.
The basement was filled to ground level using over 10,500 cubic metres of material, enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools. More than 1,400 lorry deliveries were made over 3.5 months, with materials locally sourced from Lydd Quarry.
It represents the culmination of four years of preparatory work ahead of a project which will reduce the site’s building footprint by around a third and transform the visual landscape of the area. A planning application has been submitted to remove redundant boiler units and supporting infrastructure from the site’s reactor buildings. This newly infilled area, covering more than 5,000 square metres, is expected to be a laydown area for the boilers ahead of their removal from the site.
The application, which considers potential impacts on roads, ecology and the local community, will be available for public consultation via Folkestone and Hythe District Council.
Dungeness A site director, Ian Cuthbert, commented: “The site is well-positioned for the next phase of decommissioning, which is the removal of eight large boiler units, each weighing around 800 tonnes. This work not only represents a significant engineering accomplishment but also demonstrates our continued commitment to safety, precision, and progress.”
The turbine hall infill was led by ID Corcoran Building Contractors Ltd and completed ahead of schedule, thanks to close engagement between NRS and the Environment Agency.
This latest progress marks a key step forward in the long-term decommissioning of the site, ensuring the site remains safe and prepared for future phases of work.
Image Credits: Nuclear Restoration Services , Nuclear Restoration services .
Is there going to be a new development sited on this area or nearby . I seem to recall reading a few months ago there were plans in place to carry out some kind of new structure pending the outcome of a proposal to be decided this summer. Any update on this please???
With the plan to cover large parts of Romney Marsh with solar panels, it’s a shame to see the final decommissioning of Dungeness A Power Station and the recent closure of Dungeness B albeit 5 years ago. Renewables are fine but there’s a need for more power stations and nuclear is the only option.
I also had heard that there was a possibility that the nuclear power station would be recommissioned. I agree that nuclear power is the way forward for this country where we have no risk of earthquakes, et cetera.
No. The sites at Dungeness are not going to be recommissioned. NRS are in the process of preparing for removal of their redundant boilers. EDF are cracking on with defuelling their reactors and heading into decommissioning. There are less vulnerable locations available for new reactors. Decommissioning is a huge task and is in competition for scarce resource, so there are many job opportunities still available at Dungeness.