More than 25,000 tonnes of material have been used to safely backfill the basement structure of the demolished turbine hall at the Dungeness A nuclear site in Kent.

The turbine hall, built in 1965, once stood 26 metres above ground and housed four turbogenerators that converted nuclear heat into electricity for the National Grid. Demolished a decade ago, the structure left behind a large basement void, which has now been filled to ground level with over 10,500 cubic metres of material — enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The infill operation took 3.5 months, involving more than 1,400 lorry deliveries of material sourced locally from Lydd Quarry. The work marks the culmination of four years of preparation ahead of the next stage of the site’s decommissioning programme, which will reduce its building footprint by about one third and alter the local landscape.

-- Advertisement --

A planning application has been submitted to remove redundant boiler units and supporting infrastructure from the reactor buildings. The newly infilled area, covering more than 5,000 square metres, is expected to serve as a laydown space for the boilers before removal. The application will be open for public consultation through Folkestone and Hythe District Council, addressing potential impacts on roads, ecology, and the community.

Dungeness A site director, Ian Cuthbert, said: "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 carried out by I.D. Corcoran Building Contractors Ltd and completed ahead of schedule following close engagement between Nuclear Restoration Services and the Environment Agency.