Ed Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, today 19th March 2013, has granted planning permission for development of the new Nuclear Power Station in Somerset known as Hinkley C.
Although planning permission has been given this does not yet mean building will start straightaway.
NNB Generation Company Ltd, a subsidiary of EDF Energy, who are planning to build the new power station, are still in discussions with the government regarding a guaranteed minimum price they will receive for electricity.
However, today’s granting of planning permission is a major step forward.
The development of the power station is estimated to cost over £14bn and is larger than the Olympic Park project for the London Olympics 2012 which cost approximately £10bn. Building Hinkley C is expected to create more than 25,000 jobs, directly, e.g. construction engineers and nuclear specialists; and indirectly from the services industry, e.g. hairdressers, pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers.
The project and its major infrastructure will deliver a huge boost to the Somerset economy.
Somerset Web Services has already played a major part in the project by developing the Hinkley C Supply Chain that allows EDF and large (Tier1) construction companies to identify suitable Somerset-based businesses to engage in the project.