West Somerset Council's Planning Committee resolved to grant approval with minor changes and some further informatives for EDF Energy's application, made through its subsidiary NNB Generation Company Limited, for site preparation works at Hinkley Point.

Planning permission was granted subject to recommendation including the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to deliver a wide range of measures that are designed to minimise and mitigate the impacts of the development on the communities affected.

A detailed set of planning conditions has also been recommended to be imposed. The conditions and terms of the agreement are set out in the report and updates. These were discussed by the committee and changes were made to two of the recommended conditions and Section 106 planning obligations were required in line with the report and updates.

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The committee heard representations from people speaking against and for the application and from statutory consultees and others.

The planning permission, which will be granted by West Somerset Council (once the planning agreement is completed), is not permission to construct new nuclear power reactors on the site. EDF Energy will need to apply to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to construct its proposed two new nuclear reactors. EDF has stated that it intends to do this later this year.

EDF Energy is legally obliged to fulfil the terms of the Section 106 agreement regardless of whether the IPC grants a Development Consent Order. If the IPC refuses to grant a Development Consent Order for the nuclear power station development or EDF does not implement the development consent order if it is granted, then the application for site preparation works includes provision for all structures to be removed and the site reinstated.

(CD)