More than 40,000 hours of investigative work has been completed at a planned power station site.
EDF Energy and the China General Nuclear Power Group have been carrying out work on the new Bradwell B site since December.
The early investigation work has seen 20 boreholes drilled and more than 3,000 metres covered with samples taken.
Work will now begin on analysing the samples, with fewer people needed on the ground.
The soil samples will be taken to laboratories for testing and examination to be used in engineering analysis.
At its peak 30 people were working at the site and have completed more than 40,000 hours of investigative work.
Specialist companies such as Structural Soils ltd have worked alongside firms like Scott Parsons Landscaping Services from Burnham.
Mr Parsons said: “We are carrying out groundworks for the Bradwell B project and over the summer we have been concentrating on getting the site offices set up.
“It’s really good to be working locally.”
Once all groundwork is complete, proposals for what the new power station could look like will be drawn up.
A public consultation will then take place, alongside a generic design assessment, environmental assessment, and nuclear site licence being sought.
The public can still have its say on the Generic Design Assessment on the Chinese HPR1000 set for Bradwell B.
The deadline for comments is August 31.
To comment visit onr.org.uk/new-reactors/index.htm.
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