EDF, the French energy company, have approved the £18 billion Hinkley Point C, and the UK Government must now consider the proposals for the power plant.
EDF will be financing most of the project and the site will be located in Somerset.
Energy secretary, Greg Clark, said in a statement: "The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the Government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix. The Government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn."
Critics suggest the project could be damaging to the environment and have cited risks for escalating costs. EDF shareholders have agreed to raise 4 billion Euro to pay for the project, whilst EDF board member Gerard Magnin resigned, stating that, financially, the project was "very risky".
