COUNCIL bosses have welcomed a report endorsing benefits for communities hosting nuclear power projects.

A report published this week by MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee recommended Community Benefits should be extended to new nuclear power projects, such as Hinkley Point C.

The benefits are currently only available to renewable energy projects, but this could be extended to nuclear projects through retention of business rates.

Councillor Duncan McGinty, leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: “Sedgemoor has championed Community Benefit Contributions as an important mechanism to ensure communities around Hinkley Point receive fair and reasonable benefits in recognition of the burden of hosting nationally beneficial energy infrastructure.”

MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee visited the Hinkley site last November and communities who will be affected.

Speaking about the report, Tim Yeo MP, chair of the committee, said: “Communities hosting renewable energy projects have been promised benefits. Those hosting new nuclear should also be entitled to benefits.”

The committee called on the Government to consider providing additional forms of community benefit during the construction period of a nuclear project, on top of the standard section 106 planning funding.