THE latest delay in a final decision over Hinkley C means the Somerset community is once again placed in limbo.

But how did we get here?

Here are some key points in the life of the Hinkley C project...

  • July 2006 - The Government gives the green light to new nuclear power plants, suggesting the low-carbon energy source would make a "significant contribution" to cutting carbon emissions.
  • February 2007 - EDF boss Vincent de Rivaz promises Britain would be cooking Christmas turkeys on new nuclear power by 2017.
  • September 2008 - British Energy, which owned the existing power plants in the UK, is bought out by EDF for £12.5 billion, who reveal plans to build four new reactors in the UK.
  • October 2008 - A public consultation with residents that neighbour the Hinkley site begins on the proposals.
  • March 2011 - Nuclear disaster at Fukushima power plant in Japan following magnitude 9 earthquake and huge tsunami hits confidence in nuclear power worldwide.
  • October 2011 - An application to build the new nuclear power station at Hinkley is received by the planning inspectorate.
  • February 2012 - Initial preparation work begins at the Somerset site.
  • November 2012 - The first new site licence for a UK nuclear power station in 25 years is granted to EDF's planned Hinkley Point plant.
  • December 2012 - Regulators approve the design for EPR nuclear reactors, which is the type of plant to be constructed at Hinkley, as suitable to be built in the UK.
  • March 2013 - The Environment Agency grants the three main environmental permits required for operating the planned nuclear power station, as reported by the Bridgwater Mercury, below.
    Somerset County Gazette:
  • March 2013 - Coalition energy secretary Ed Davey green-lights the new nuclear power plant.
  • October 2013 - The Government agrees £92.50 per megawatt-hour will be paid for electricity produced at the Somerset site - around double the current market rate at the time.
  • March 2013 - The European Commission opens an "in-depth investigation" to examine whether UK support for a new nuclear power station breaks state aid rules.
  • May 2014 - The second phase of construction work begins at the site.
  • October 2014 - The European Commission gives the final go-ahead for the £18 billion project.
  • February 2015 - The March deadline on a final investment decision is abandoned by EDF.
  • September 2015 - Chancellor George Osborne approves an initial Government guarantee worth £2 billion for the proposed plant in Somerset and EDF group chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy announces that the 2023 first power date will not be met.
  • October 2015 - EDF signs an investment agreement with the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) to build the new plant at Hinkley Point.
  • January 2016 - EDF delays its final investment decision again - it is understood the company is looking for new investment partners and has struggled to raise the cash for its 66.5% stake in the project.
  • March 2016 - It emerges that chief financial officer for EDF Thomas Piquemal, pictured below, has resigned, amid fears the project could jeopardise the company's financial position. A fortnight later Mr de Rivaz tells MPs that Hinkley Point will definitely go ahead.
    Somerset County Gazette: Thomas Piquemal, the chief financial officer of EDF, has resigned over the French energy giant's plans to build the first new nuclear power plant in the UK in decades (EDF/PA)
  • May 2016 - A consultation is launched with the French unions about the project, while later in the month, Mr de Rivaz appears again in front of MPs, insisting the scheme will go ahead.
  • June 2016 - After a vote to leave the European Union throws fresh doubt on the project, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd says the final investment decision is still expected soon, claiming "we are full tilt on Hinkley Point".
  • July 2016 - EDF announces board will meet to consider final investment decision on July 28.
  • July 28 2016 - The EDF board votes in Paris by 10-7 to give the go ahead for the new power station, with 25,000 jobs set to be created. But questions are raised about the start of the project when the Government pulls back from signing documents and says it will not make a decision until the autumn. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark is now expected to spend time studying details of the EDF decision. Ahead of the meeting board member Gerard Magnin resigns, saying the project was financially risky and would lead France further from renewable energy.