The cement plant in Akranes, west Iceland, will be demolished, according to reports by the country’s broadcaster RÚV.

The demolition crews moved in earlier this week and has received widespread support from the town’s 7000 residents, some of whom have been linked to the plant for generations. “Generally, everyone believes [the plant] should go. It has deteriorated and I think everyone is in favour of it,” says Alfreð Alfreðson, operations manager and whose father helped build the plant in 1956.

The project will lead to a complete change in the town’s image.The 9ha site will be repurposed for housing and other projects in the next few years.