Proposals which could see Bradwell Power Station site cleared within 25 years - 75 years ahead of schedule - could be finalised by next March.
Over the past three months, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has been holding a major public consultation exercise, where it has revealed its first-ever draft strategy.
It has been asking for residents' comments at public consultation events all over the Maldon district, and further afield, but the deadline for opinions was Friday.
All feedback is now being gathered ready to hand to the Government for approval.
If given the go-ahead, the NDA's strategy could see the power station site completely cleared within 25 years - 75 years before the initial target.
The original timescale, which would have seen the building cleared by 2103, was set in 1986, when decommissioning plans were in the early stages and less-developed technology would have resulted in the process taking three times as long. Under the new plans, the project could be finished by 2030.
An NDA spokesman said: "We have been extremely encouraged by the level of public response."
The early finish at Bradwell would include a continuous level of employment of skilled workers for 25 years and would cost significantly less than the £470m predicted.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, November 16, 2005
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