A planning application has been lodged by the operators of Hunterston ‘A’ for replacement protective covering of the power station, which is in the process of being decommissioned.

The proposed ‘replacement weather envelope cladding’ will surround reactor buildings and associated works at the industrial site.

Applicants Magnox state that the replacement is necessary to replace the current temporary weather enclosure. Hunterston ‘A’ ceased electricity generation in 1990 but the site is described in the application as still heavily developed, with twin reactors in the centre of the site, surrounded by other built development associated with the past and present uses as well as decommissioning.

The proposal seeks permission for the erection of a long-term weather envelope to be applied directly to the reactor structures, the purpose of which is to provide an effective wind and water-tight enclosure for the internal reactor.

Magnox explain that the weather envelope cladding will ensure minimal maintenance requirements over the duration of its function life over the next 60 years.

The long-term weather envelope will ensure that the proposed cladding is in place until the final site clearance stage begins in 2075, to be completed in 2085.

It involves a ‘profiled’ aluminium standing seam roof and wall cladding system, and the proposed cladding will be applied to the existing reactor steel and concrete structure resulting in a tighter visual outlook. Magnox state that the proposed aluminium sheeting was previously approved by North Ayrshire Council in 2002, and said that the final supplier had not as yet been confirmed but it would be similar in terms of overall colour and appearance.

At night, the lighting which illuminates the interior of the buildings can be seen, but the new proposal means no internal light will be seen from the buildings.

The appearance of the weather envelope has received criticism from former Cumbrae Community Council representative Ian Frame in the past, who described the cream coloured structure as standing out too much in the landscape, describing it as the ‘Hunterston Hilton’. However, Hunterston ‘A’ representatives stated that they had been to Millport to see the view but explained that to allow procedures to be carried out safely inside, the white exterior was the best colour to be used.