EDF gets first green light for new station

EDF Energy has passed the first stage of approvals to build a third nuclear power station at its existing site in the South-west at Hinkley Point. The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) said yesterday it has accepted for examination EDF's application. EDF must now publicise its intention to build the Hinkley Point C plant and invite feedback from the public, which the IPC will take into consideration upon making its final recommendation.

In contrast with Japan, Germany and Italy, which are rethinking their nuclear plans after a huge earthquake and tsunami sparked the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years, Britain is to push ahead with its nuclear plant building plans. It has identified eight sites as possible building sites for new nuclear plants, with the first expected to be built by EDF at Hinkley Point by 2018.