25,000 tonnes of material used to backfill turbine hall basement

Photo: NRS

The turbine hall, originally built in 1965, stood 26 metres high and housed four turbogenerators that converted nuclear heat into electricity for the National Grid. Although the building was demolished a decade ago, a large basement void remained on site.

That void has now been safely filled to ground level using over 10,500 cubic metres of material—enough to fill four Olympic swimming pools.

The backfilling process required more than 1,400 lorry deliveries over three and a half months, with material sourced locally from Lydd Quarry.

The completion follows four years of preparatory work and paves the way for the next phase of decommissioning, which will reduce the site’s building footprint by about one third.

A planning application has been submitted to remove redundant boiler units and supporting infrastructure from the reactor buildings.

The newly infilled area, spanning more than 5,000 square metres, is expected to serve as a laydown area for the boilers ahead of their removal.

The application, which considers potential impacts on roads, ecology and the local community, will go out for public consultation via Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

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 led by I.D. Corcoran Building Contractors Ltd and completed ahead of schedule, with close coordination between Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) and the Environment Agency.

NRS said the milestone marks a significant step in the long-term decommissioning of Dungeness A, ensuring the site remains safe and prepared for future phases of work.