An £18billion project in Somerset has suffered an unexpected delay after the Government announced it would wait until the autumn to make a final decision on the development.
The building of Hinkley Point power station, which could provide hundreds of jobs in North Somerset and Sedgemoor, was initially set to be given the green light in 2010.
However, funding was only approved by French firm EDF at a board meeting last week. The Government then announced it would make a final decision in early autumn. EDF is still hoping to have more than 2,500 workers on site by next year, but Sedgemoor District Council has spoken of its surprise at the latest delay.
The authority’s leader Duncan McGinty said: “The Government’s surprise announcement last night was an unexpected development and the council can only wait and press our local MPs to pursue for a speedy resolution.”
However, EDF’s decision to approve funding was met with positivity.
Somerset County Council’s leader John Osman said: “The decision by EDF is a very important one. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our businesses and county as a whole.”
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