CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a nuclear power station have suffered another blow after a council rejected applications for land investigations to be carried out at the site for the second time.

Maldon District Council has rejected an application for land investigations to take place at the site of the proposed Bradwell B plant.

The application, from Chinese developer CGN, was first turned down in July, but Maldon District Council officers sought legal advice and asked councillors to reconsider.

But last week, after hearing the advice in secret, the council’s planning committee voted against the land investigations by 14 to one.

The decision comes after Colchester Council unanimously opposed the Bradwell B development.

Chairman of the Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (Banng) Prof Andy Blowers said: “Maldon has long been a supporter of new nuclear power at Bradwell and this refusal deals another blow to CGN’s hopes of building their own reactors in the UK at the site.”

The Bradwell B project is a joint operation between CGN and EDF Energy.

Its backers claim it will create 900 permanent jobs, as well as 9,000 jobs during construction.

A spokesperson for Banng said: “While we are heartened by the latest developments at Maldon District Council, we are well aware there’s a long way to go.

“But, CGN has endured a number of recent setbacks in its ambitions and, in the long run, may not have the stomach for the fight ahead.”

The UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) also welcomed the decisions from both councils.

Committee chair David Blackburn said: “I welcome the recent bipartisan decisions made by councillors in Maldon and Colchester, who have clearly responded to the genuine concerns of the local population and community groups.

“NFLA is more than willing to cooperate with them in the future to highlight the ongoing risks of the Bradwell B site and the wider issues around their financing.

“It is time to think again about whether there is a real need for new nuclear at a time when many councils are passing climate emergency policies and developing both impressive local renewable energy schemes and other energy efficiency and energy storage projects.”