Contracts for four big players in the nuclear industry to help “revolutionise” decommissioning at the Sellafield site have been rubber stamped.

Sellafield Ltd has awarded 20-year contracts to Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd, Wood Nuclear Limited on Design, Doosan Babcock Ltd and Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd to deliver the Programme and Project Partners (PPP) framework.

The value of the PPP work could amount to around £4.5 billion, according to contract winner Wood, who along with the other three were unveiled as “preferred bidders” in March.

With contracts now finalised they will lead a new framework which Sellafield Ltd says will help bring faster and more effective project delivery at the complex nuclear site in West Cumbria, along with more stability to both the design and construction supply chains, greater workforce flexibility and more economic benefit to the local area.

PPP is split into four lots. Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd will lead on Civils Construction Management; Wood Nuclear Limited on Design and Engineering; Doosan Babcock Ltd, Process Construction Management and Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd on Integration.

They will work with Sellafield Ltd to deliver major projects to support the West Cumbria site’s 100-year decommissioning programme.

Paul Foster, chief executive of Sellafield Ltd said the contract awards marked the start of a “new and very different journey” for the organisation and its supply chain partners.

“Our number one priority is making Sellafield safer, sooner, and a key part of this is establishing closer relationships with other expert organisations,” he said.

“Working side by side with our four long-term partners, as one team, will help transform the way we deliver projects safely, quickly, and cost effectively.

“The new approach also provides huge opportunities for our communities, through 20 years of sustainable employment in the design and construction supply chain, enhancing the skills of the workforce, while helping realise the economic ambitions of our community, to achieve its unlimited potential.”

The four contracts winners welcomed the opportunity to lead the PPP framework.

Stuart Bradie, president and chief executive of Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd, said: “As a pioneer of collaborative working and forging strong alliances, KBR is delighted to have been selected to partner with Sellafield Ltd on this enduring project, which will place us at the heart of the customer’s delivery team.”

Bob MacDonald, chief executive of Wood’s Specialist Technical Solutions business, said the contract win is a continuation of the company’s “deep, shared history with Sellafield”.

“We are looking forward to working with Sellafield and our partners to maximise socio-economic benefits for local communities,” he added.

Morgan Sindall Group also has a long-standing relationship with Sellafield. Its chief executive John Morgan said he was “delighted” at the contract win.

And Andy Colquhoun, chief executive of Doosan Babcock, said he was looking forward to collaborating with Sellafield Ltd and the other PP partners “to meet the significant decommissioning challenges which lie ahead”.