Councils have welcomed the Government’s decision to green-light the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’.

Theresa May this morning approved the £18bn project and set out a revised agreement with French firm EDF over control of the Somerset site.

Business secretary Greg Clark said: ‘Having thoroughly reviewed the proposal for Hinkley Point C, we will introduce a series of measures to enhance security and will ensure Hinkley cannot change hands without the Government's agreement. Consequently, we have decided to proceed with the first new nuclear power station for a generation.'