Hinkley Point

Proposed New Nuclear Power Station, Hinkley Point C

The draft National Policy Statements on energy have identified that Hinkley Point in West Somerset is a potentially suitable site for a new nuclear power station. EDF Energy is proposing to build two new nuclear reactors, known collectively as Hinkley Point C, at the site.

This web page provides information on:

EDF’s Hinkley Point C site preparation application approved

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 at its meeting today, July 28.

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. To view the Officer’s Report, visit www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/hinkleypoint. 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.The committee heard representations from people speaking against and for the application and from statutory consultees and others. Members considered the application for approximately five hours before casting their votes.

Votes cast in favour: 11

Votes cast against: 1

Abstentions: 0

Further details of the Planning Committee held on the 28th July can be found here

A recording of the full meeting is available (MP3 format). Listen to the meeting

EDF’s Hinkley Point C site preparation application recommended for approval

The Officer’s Report to West Somerset Council’s Planning Committee on July 28, which is considering EDF Energy’s application made through its subsidiary NNB Generation Company Limited for site preparation works at Hinkley Point, recommends approval subject to the matters set out in the report.

This follows a detailed assessment that considers all the relevant issues, including all representations received. If Committee Members decide to approve the application, the grant of the planning permission would be subject to 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 would also be imposed.

Preliminary Works: Site Preparation Works Re-consultation Extension

West Somerset Council has received a number of requests from members of the public to extend the consultation deadline beyond the 20th May 2011. These requests have asked for the consultation deadline to be extended so interested parties have sufficient time to read through all of the additional application documentation submitted by EDF on Tuesday 26th April.

Having taken these requests into consideration, the consultation deadline has been extended until the close of business on Tuesday 31st May 2011.

Comments must be made in writing (to Council headquarters in Williton), by e-mail hinkley@westsomerset.gov.uk or through the online comments form. Please quote the Local Planning Authority's reference number 3/32/10/037. Any comments received after this deadline may still be taken into account provided the application has not been determined.

Comments and representations submitted so far for the Site Preparation Works application are currently being reviewed by the Council and issues raised within will be taken into account when determining the application.

Online Comments

It had been brought to the attention of West Somerset Council that members of the public are concerned that comments which are submitted through the online portal system are not appearing on the online case file. The reason for this is due to the way the system has been configured and we are working to rectify this situation so that all comments appear online. However in the meantime, we can assure you that all comments submitted whether that be by letter, by e-mail hinkley@westsomerset.gov.uk or using the online portal are being stored and will be considered and taken into account.

It has also been brought to our attention that some of the consultation letters sent as part of the Site Preparation Works (3/32/10/037) re-consultation referenced an e-mail address ending in ".co.uk" which should have ended ".gov.uk". Consultation responses should be sent to hinkley@westsomerset.gov.uk only. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Preliminary Works - Site Preparation Works Regulation 19 Response

On Tuesday 26th April 2011, EDF formerly submitted their response to West Somerset Councils (WSC) Regulation 19(1) and 19(10) of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended) request for further information/clarification.This information was received following a formal request by WSC, on Friday 11th March 2011, for additional information to be included in the Environmental Statement submitted in support of the application. The information provided in this response is now subject to a further round of consultation which runs until the 20th May 2011.

This information is available to view on the Councils website by following the link to the Site Preparation Works application documents view application documents It is also available in hard copy at the Council's headquarters in Williton. Stogursey and Cannington Parish Council have also received hard copies.

If you have any comments/observations/representations these should be made by Friday 20th May 2011. They must be made in writing, by e-mail or through the comments form. Please quote the Local Planning Authority's reference number 3/32/10/037. Any comments received after this deadline may still be taken into account provided the application has not been determined.

All representations received before the application is finally decided will be taken into account in the consideration and determination of the proposal. Any representations may be made publicly available under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

Please be aware that no acknowledgement of the receipt of your representation will be given.

Details of the decision reached by the Local Planning Authority will be made available on the Council's website; additionally the local newspapers publish a weekly list of the Local Planning Authority's decisions

Preliminary Works - Site Preparation Works Regulation 19 Request

Since the close of the consultation period for the Site Preparation Works application (3/32/10/037) on the 31st January 2011, officers have been working through all the responses received. Taking into account all the issues and requests for clarification raised by statutory bodies and members of the public, as well as by the Councils own technical team, a decision has been made to seek further information/clarification from the applicant. This request was made on Friday 11th March 2011, a copy of this request can be found in the related documents section of the Site Preparation Works webpage.

This request was made pursuant to Regulation 19(1) and 19(10) of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended). It should be noted that there is no statutory timeframe in which the applicants have to respond. However, once further information has been provided West Somerset Council will advertise the availability of the information in accordance with the Regulations. This advertisement will set out where the information can be viewed for a period of 21 days from the date of the advertisement

Hinkley Point C Project Supplementary Planning Document

West Somerset and Sedgemoor District Councils will be undertaking a 6-week consultation on Hinkley Point C Project Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), starting on Tuesday 1st March 2011.

The SPD will help inform proposals and assist potential developers, including EDF Energy, in formulating their plans. The Councils would like your views to assist in the approach for the Hinkley Point project. The SPD will help inform the Councils' Local Impact Report that will be submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission, when they consider the application for the main power station

Public Meetings March 2011

As part of this consultation, we are organising a number of public events:

Tuesday 8th March, 7-9pm, West Somerset Council Offices, Williton
Wednesday 9th March, 7-9pm, Victory Hall, Stogursey
Thursday 10th March, 7-9pm, Bridgwater College, Cannington
Monday 14th March, 7-9pm, Combwich Village Hall, Otterhampton
Wednesday 16th March, 7-9pm, Sedgemoor Auction Rooms, North Petherton
Thursday 17th March, 7-9pm, Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club TA6 4T, Bridgwater

The aim of these events is to raise awareness of the SPD consultation, but we will also be on hand to answer questions relating to EDF’s parallel consultation http://hinkleypoint.edfenergyconsultation.info/public-consultation/stage-2-update-consultation/

Preliminary Works: Site Preparation Works Consultation Extension

West Somerset Council has received numerous requests from members of the public to extend the consultation deadline beyond the 12th January 2011. These requests have asked for the consultation deadline to be extended so that members of the public can have sufficient time to read through all of the application documentation submitted. Members of the public have also asked for an extension due to the complexity of the information submitted.

Having taken these requests into consideration, the consultation deadline has been extended until the 31st January 2011.

Any comments received after this deadline may still be taken into account provided the application has not been determined.

Additional application document:

Respondents to the consultation for Preliminary Works: Site Preparation Works application should be aware that since the initial consultation letters were sent out, EDF have submitted two further documents in support of their application. These documents are available along with all other application material on View Application Documents and at the Council offices in Williton.

The following additional documents have been submitted to West Somerset Council:

Planning Statement Supplement which is to be read alongside the Planning Statement (Volume 1). This has been prepared for completion given the recent legal ruling on the abolition of RSSs; and
Flood Risk Assessment Addendum.

Application documentation unavailable online

There are a small number of application documents which are not available via the online portal, due to the file sizes. These documents are available to view in hard copy at the Council offices in Williton and the copies held by both Cannington and Stogursey Parish Councils:

Volume 4, Chapter 14, Part B, B2 - Onshore Interpretative Report Appendices- Appendix 2 and Appendix 22 Rev3
Volume 4, Chapter 16 Part B B10 Appendix C Geophysical Report
Volume 4, Chapter 22 Part B B3 Geophysical Survey Report Appendix D Figure 36
Volume 4 Chapter 22 Part B B7 Offshore Intertidal Archaeology Assessment
Volume 4 Chapter 17 Appendix 17-1 Recreational Access Appendix M2

Public Meetings

West Somerset Council arranged two public meetings which were held on the following dates:

Stogursey - Victory Hall: Friday 17th December 2010: 6.30pm - 9.30pm - please note the meeting of the 17th December was postponed due to adverse weather conditions a rearranged meeting was held on the 4th January 2011.
Cannington - Cannington College: Wednesday 5th January 2011: 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Further Information

If you require further information on Hinkley Point C, please contact: hinkley@westsomerset.gov.uk

Alternatively contact the Hinkley Point Case Officers on 01984 635211.

For all media enquiries please contact:

Stacey Beaumont
Media, PR & Communications
sbeaumont@westsomerset.gov.uk
01984 635285

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