Pictures: demolition of huge "flying saucer" control room

Fawley power station was decommissioned in 2013

The circular control room at the old Fawley power station is being demolished
Author: Jason BeckPublished 23rd Feb 2023
Last updated 23rd Feb 2023

A huge circular control room at the former Fawley power station on Southampton Water is being demolished as the site is cleared for a new housing development.

The building, nicknamed the flying saucer, has been used in film and TV shows including sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf.

The outside of the power station was used as a filming location for the 2018 Star Wars film Solo: A Star Wars Story.

The oil-fired power station was decommissioned in 2013 after more than 40 years of operation.

The site is being redeveloped into a new town with 1,500 homes under plans drawn up by Fawley Waterside.

There were calls for the power station control room to be preserved as part of the development.

A Fawley Waterside spokesperson said: "The admin building or control building has always been in the demolition contract for Fawley power station.

"Fawley Waterside did, for a period, consider possible options for retaining it, but due to its custom design specification it made no financial and practical sense to include it within the redevelopment of the site."

A CGI of the proposed Fawley Waterside development

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