A consortium is to be stripped of its contract to clean up western Europe's largest nuclear waste site at Sellafield following criticism of its performance.
Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), made up of US engineering group URS, British firm AMEC and French energy firm AREVA, was awarded an extension to its deal in 2013 despite accusations of delays and cost over-runs.
But the Government confirmed NMP, which employs 10,000 workers, will have its contract terminated.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will instead assume responsibility for the work to allow a "simplifying" of its relationship with the Sellafield project.
The cost of making the site, on the Cumbrian coast, safe has been put at almost £80bn over 120 years.
Sellafield was used in the 1950s to make plutonium for nuclear weapons before the country's first nuclear power station was built there.
NMP was handed a 17-year contract worth £9bn in 2008.
Energy secretary Ed Davey said: "Sellafield is the biggest and most complex nuclear site in Europe, so it's right that we keep the way it's being managed under constant review.
"We have seen great examples of how this approach can work with Crossrail and the Olympics - and I'm confident we'll see
similar results at Sellafield."
Amec said the NMP contract would be terminated at the end of 2016, adding that the NDA had confirmed it was not performance-related.
Its statement said: "It is vital that the lessons learned and the progress made since NMP were awarded the contract in 2008 should not be wasted.
"NMP has to date generated £650m of efficiency savings and met 96% of its targets last year while Sellafield's safety performance is now the best ever."
Gary Smith, national officer of the GMB, questioned the Government's role in the contract process.
He said: "We believe NDA wanted to terminate the contract in 2013 following a report it commissioned, but was overruled by ministers.
"Over £2bn has been spent with NMP since they extended the contract.
"Who is going to be held to account for extending the contract? GMB members, the community and taxpayers need to know."
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