CIVIC chiefs are facing fresh calls to order an investigation into plans to transform one of Hampshire’s biggest industrial sites.

Fawley Power Station is at the centre of a multi-million-pound plan to replace most of the existing buildings with 1,500 homes and a luxury marina.

Fawley Waterside Ltd, which bought the site in 2015, is also proposing to build a restaurant at the top of the 650ft chimney.

Some of the smaller buildings on the 300-acre site overlooking Southampton Water have already been demolished.

But retired planning inspectors Colin Thompson and Richard Tamplin want an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to be carried out before any of the main structures are torn down.

They fear the power station could contain asbestos and other hazardous materials.

Mr Thompson and Mr Tamplin raised the issue with the government earlier this year.

Now they have written to New Forest District Council’s senior planning manager, David Groom.

Their letter says: “The demolition and redevelopment of the Fawley power station site is a very important project for the New Forest area.

“It obviously has massive environmental economic and traffic implications for both the national park and the district as a whole.

“It will impact on the lives of local people for many years to come.“If such a big scheme is going to be successful, receive local support and avoid legal challenges, it is imperative that the right process is followed.”

A Fawley Waterside spokesman said no major demolition work would take place before the council made a decision on the EIA.

The council has not ruled out an EIA, saying all technical and procedural requirements, including any environmental assessments, would be met.

The power station, one of Hampshire’s biggest buildings, includes a huge turbine hall and a circular control room that resembles a flying saucer.

It had the capacity to generate enough electricity to power more than one million homes but closed four years ago after failing to meet new environmental standards.

In 2014 it was among the locations used by the makers of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, starring Tom Cruise as secret agent Ethan Hunt.

Earlier this year scenes for the latest Star Wars movie were shot at the power station.