First nuclear power plant in nearly 20 years given planning permission

Planning consent has been granted for the first nuclear power station in the UK since 1995, the UK government announced on 19 March.

The employers’ group, the Confederation of British Industry, described the approval of the multi-billion-pound project at Hinkley Point, Somerset, as a big step forward. Its chief policy director, Katja Hall, said: “Major projects like this not only help us to overcome our energy challenges, but provide a real boost to growth, creating thousands of jobs directly and through the supply chain.”