PLANS have been submitted to Somerset Council to request permission for a hotel near Bridgwater and Highbridge to be repurposed in order to house Hinkley Point C workers.

It is proposed that Laburnum Lodges in West Hunstpill would be converted to accommodate workers at the EDF power plant for a minimum of five years, before then resuming usual operations as holiday accommodation.

The news comes after it was recently revealed EDF were once again in talks with Somerset Council to increase the workforce on site, despite an ongoing housing crisis in Bridgwater.

There are no plans to make any sort of alterations to the existing buildings and site at Laburnum Lodges, on Sloway Lane.

The business has operated continuously as a hotel complex since 1985 and sits within 40 acres of surrounding land.

Inside the site are 60 'letting lodges', which operate as part of the hotel complex, which would house Hinkley Point C workers if plans are approved.

Also included in the ground is an on-site restaurant, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, and laundry services.

In terms of on-site activities, fishing and clay pigeon shooting are currently among the options, not mentioning the recent addition of several escape rooms.

There is also parking on the site for up to 120 vehicles.

If plans are approved, access to the site would remain the same from Sloway Lane, as would parking and turning space arrangements on the site.

Access to the building itself would remain via the existing route within the site.

It's proposed that vehicular access into the building would be via a roller shutter door on the north boundary of the site, and pedestrian access into the building would be via a personnel door adjacent to the roller shutter.

Cllr Leigh Redman, Bridgwater Town Council spokesperson for Nuclear Issues, said that the original development consent order (DCO) signed by the secretary of state for Hinkley Point C, indicated that at peak, the number of workers on site would be 5,600.

This number was since raised to 8,600 due to the conversion of Pontins in Brean to become an accommodation site for workers at the power plant, which is now full.

There are now over 11,000 workers at Hinkley Point C, and EDF has confirmed its plans to bring in more staff in the near future.

To keep up to date with the application, or for more information, search reference number 52/23/00010 on the Somerset Council website.

Comments are welcomed until Tuesday, February 13, and approval could be given as early as Wednesday, February 14.