The grey and brown facade of the Sizewell A nuclear power station has been a familiar sight on the Suffolk shoreline since the 1960s, but this landmark will soon be disappearing.

East Suffolk Council has given nuclear decommissioning firm Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) the go ahead to demolish the turbine hall and electrical annexe, a decision described by Sizewell A site director Alan Walker as "fantastic news".

Currently, redundant equipment is being removed from the turbine hall and this process is expected to be completed this month in preparation for the demolition work, which will be completed by March and will clear an area the size of a professional football pitch for future use.

READ MORE: Suffolk nuclear power station stopped operating in 2006

The general site will continue to be decommissioned and the cleared land created by the turbine hall demolition will be used to support further decommissioning activities, such as a laydown area.

Mr Walker said: “This is fantastic news. I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to deliver our mission to decommission Sizewell A site safely, securely and sustainably.

“The work brings benefits to the local economy and makes a considerable contribution towards achieving strategic NRS targets to reduce ageing buildings to ground level and remove redundant material.”

Much of the equipment inside the turbine hall has now been removedMuch of the equipment inside the turbine hall has now been removed (Image: Charlotte Bond) The four boiler reactor stopped operating in 2006 after 40 years of service during which the site produced 110 terawatt hours of electricity.

READ MORE: Suffolk: Training facility idea for future of Sizewell A

During its working days, steam generated by the reactor was used to drive the two large turbines in the turbine hall, with the steam then cooled back to water by passing seawater through condensing units located beneath the steam turbines. 

Final site clearance - when the reactor building will be removed - is due to take place in the 2090s, but could happen sooner.

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Alan Cumming, group chief assurance and performance officer with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said: “We are committed to decommissioning our sites safely, securely and sustainably – freeing up land which can then be reused to deliver benefits for the local community.

“Demolition of the turbine hall will be a tangible step forward in delivering our mission and I want to thank all those involved for their hard work in getting us to this stage and the incredible progress that has been made to far.”