THREE Somerset councils have scooped a top national planning award for their work on the proposed nuclear development at Hinkley Point C.

West Somerset Council, Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council were short-listed from more than 120 councils to win the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) Annual Award.

But the three councils emerged victorious for their work on drawing up a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA), which allowed them to liase with communities affected by the development while giving feedback to project developers EDF Energy.

It marks the first time a PPA has been used to deal with a proposed nuclear development.

Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, said: “Responding to consultations and ensuring that Somerset residents are at the heart of any proposals for Hinkley Point C continues to be a very important but time consuming task for the three councils.

“We feel honoured to have won this RTPI award - it's a great achievement and testament to the hard work that council officers have been putting into this project.”

PICTURED: From left to right back row, Cllr Chris Morgan, Alyn Jones, Doug Bamsey, Cllr David Hall, Andrew Goodchild, Paula Hewitt, Claire Pearce, and Cllr Anne Fraser.