With a commercial deal agreed between the government and EDF on the price to be charged for electricity generated, the project can now move to the main construction phase.
Planning permission has already been granted and preliminary works have been going on for months.
BYLOR was selected last year for the main civil engineering and construction contract valued at more than 拢2bn.
鈥淭his is a pivotal moment for the UK construction industry as we move forward with EDF towards mobilisation and the start of work on site,鈥� said Laing O鈥橰ourke group chief executive Anna Stewart.
鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke, as the UK鈥檚 biggest private engineering and construction company, and Bouygues, one of France鈥檚 leading construction and nuclear engineering specialists, are delighted to step closer to commencing work on this huge undertaking.聽 The development of Hinkley Point C in Somerset will become the single largest construction project in the UK, and we are hugely excited by the opportunity to showcase the skills and potential of our delivery teams and be at the forefront of a nuclear energy renaissance.鈥�
Once a final investment decision (FID) is announced by EDF, the JV will move swiftly to establish site teams and start work. This is not expected until next year. The European Commission has still to approve the state aid for the project, which guaranteed electricity price effectively is.
Roger Robinson, Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 Europe chief executive said: 鈥淭he proposed nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C is the start of the nuclear renaissance in the UK, and the BYLOR joint venture will be at the leading edge of a project shaping design for efficient construction.聽 The construction programme will require 3,600 operatives and 800 staff to bring it to reality, and we are committed to working with EDF and local groups and organisations to equip current and future generations in Somerset and across the UK with the skills they need to make this vision a reality.鈥�
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