THE government has approved the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project in Somerset, boosting hopes of a new power plant at Moorside in west Cumbria.

Ministers confirmed today that Hinkley Point will go ahead following a “new agreement” with EDF.

They said they had imposed “significant new safeguards” for future foreign investment in critical infrastructure.

A statement said: “Following a comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, and a revised agreement with EDF, the Government has decided to proceed with the first new nuclear power station for a generation.

“However, ministers will impose a new legal framework for future foreign investment in Britain’s critical infrastructure, which will include nuclear energy and apply after Hinkley.”

The French energy giant EDF had already made its final investment decision on the scheme only for Prime Minister Theresea May to surprise the industry in July by saying she wanted to review the details.

During her recent visit to the G20 summit in China, Mrs May defended the delay, insisting it was because she wanted a fresh look at the evidence.

The go ahead should boost Cumbrian nuclear businesses such as Bendalls Engineering and James Fisher Nuclear, which are likely to win contracts at Hinkley Point.

And it will bolster NuGen's proposals for a nuclear power station at Moorside, Sellafield.

The company, owned by Toshiba and ENGIE, wants to build three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors there.

These would have a combined capacity of up to 3.8GW gross, enough to power up 6m homes.

Up to 6,000 people would work on site during construction, and 1,000 when the power plant is operational.

NuGen is due to make the final decision on whether to proceed in 2018.