Sellafield B6 Decommissioning Project
Restoring delivery confidence and completing the first demolition phase ahead of schedule and under budget
Overview
Sellafield’s 110-metre chimney, associated with the 1957 Windscale fire, required carefully controlled first-phase demolition as part of a £15 million nuclear decommissioning programme. With radioactive levels sufficiently decayed, the works involved removal of the filter gallery and around 500 tonnes of contaminated steel, concrete and masonry. Reeves Project Management was engaged to provide programme and commercial leadership on this highly sensitive nuclear site, helping stabilise delivery and restore confidence in performance.
The Challenge
The demolition posed complex technical and contractual risks. Contaminated materials had to be safely dismantled, bagged, and recorded for disposal, while maintaining rigorous safety and environmental standards. The project had been let under an NEC3 Option C Target Cost contract, but with disputes over scope variations and performance, stakeholder confidence in the contractor had eroded. Without intervention, the contract was at risk of protracted dispute and delay.
Our Approach
We implemented decisive commercial and programme leadership by:
Re-negotiating and re-baselining the contract to agree a revised target cost, programme, and performance indicators.
Establishing a collaborative, integrated project team with clear governance and regular daily, weekly, and monthly progress meetings.
Driving a recovery programme to restore confidence in both delivery and contractual compliance.
The Outcome
The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, with stakeholder confidence fully restored. Our intervention not only safeguarded delivery of this critical phase of decommissioning, but also protected the reputation of both client and contractor.
Next Steps
If you need experienced leadership to stabilise a complex, safety-critical or highly regulated programme, Reeves Project Management can help. Explore our Interim Leadership service or Book a Consultation to discuss your requirements.