m.george@bepp.co.uk

Anti-nuclear campaigners claimed yesterday the chances of new nuclear reactors operating in the West by 2018 have been hit by a planning delay.

Hinkley Point in Somerset in Somerset has been earmarked for the first wave of new reactors, while Oldbury, South Gloucestershire is being considered for a later project. Energy Minister Charles Hendry has revealed the National Policy Statements (NPS) will pave the way for a new generation of nuclear power will not be presented to Parliament until next spring.

The Western Daily Press reported on Wednesday how Mr Hendry told MPs they would have been agreed by Parliament before the winter. Now he says they "have decided to take a further look at the appraisal of sustainability (AoS) of our draft energy policy statements to make sure that they are fit for purpose. Taking this decision now is essential to safeguard our long-term goal of a sustainable and secure energy supply."

An AoS is a study of the environmental, social and economic impacts of implementing a policy, and includes comparison with reasonable alternatives.

The Minister claimed: "Plans for the first new nuclear power station to begin generating electricity by 2018 remain on course."

But the Stop Hinkley campaign group said the NPS had originally been expected to be ready by the end of July, and the announcement "throws the planning process into some confusion". It suggested the Government "fears being challenged over aspects of the policy statements which may not be legally watertight".

Earlier this year Friends of the Earth promised to mount a legal challenge over the first NPS consultation framework, while the RSPB, World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace could also do so.

Stop Hinkley co-ordinator Jim Duffy said the AoS would have to investigate renewable energy as an alternative.

He said: "This was a surprise announcement which raises lots of questions. Will the alternatives to nuclear be thoroughly examined in the new consultation? Will the Hinkley C application be allowed to go ahead as planned in December? If so, how will it be managed in the absence of a planning blueprint?

"A nine-month delay from the Government on top of EDF's six-month planning application delay looks likely to affect their hopes for a 2018 opening of the two massive reactors at Hinkley C."

EDF Energy said it would "work with Government to understand the details and implications of the announcement".