HINKLEY C developer EDF Energy has hailed the signing of a "landmark" agreement which will deliver nearly £100 million for local communities to mitigate the impact of the proposed new nuclear power station.

Leaders from West Somerset Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council met executives from EDF on Tuesday to sign the formal Section 106 agreement.

The agreement commits EDF to spending more than £64 million to support local communities and services such as education, training, transport and housing, providing planning permission is given for Hinkley C to be built.

As reported in last week's Free Press, the money is in addition to the £28 million committed by EDF Energy earlier this year as part of the separate site preparation works.

A spokesman for EDF said the "breakthrough" 106 settlement "resolves all the councils' principal issues relating to the application to build and operate Britain's first nuclear power station for more than 20 years".

It follows months of detailed discussions on how best to reduce the impact of the development on the local community.

Last week district councillors revealed they had had to make a number of concessions in return for the windfall, including dropping the council's opposition to proposals for an on-site workers' hostel.

However, the £64 million funding pot is still dependent on permission being given by the Secretary of State for Hinkley C to be built.

The package includes financial payments and contingency funds and is designed to pay for a range of measures for communities most affected by the development.

These include:

l Up to £8.5 million for a housing fund to mitigate potential impacts on the local housing market, including the refurbishment of local properties.

l £12.8 million as the balance of a £20 million community fund for measures to enhance the quality of life in local communities. The £12.8 million will be independently administered by the Somerset Community Foundation, with council, community and EDF Energy representation on the awarding panel.

l Nearly £16 million on a variety of highway improvement schemes, particularly in and around Bridgwater, to ease traffic and enhance road safety

l Over £7.1 million to improve local skills and training, including a final £2 million instalment for the Energy Skills Centre at Bridgwater College.

l Up to £4.6 million towards community safety measures.

l Almost £5.5 million to support economic development and tourism initiatives.

l More than £3 million to support local education provision and provide extra school places, if necessary.

l Almost £1 million to support local health services.

l £300,000 to be spent on local heritage.

l £350,000 to pay for landscape and visual improvements.

l More than £440,000 to support improvements to public rights of way.

l Over £865,000 on environmental measures, including contributions towards flood defence measures in Cannington (£500,000), Bridgwater (£220,000) and Stolford (£80,000).

l More than £3.6 million to provide additional resources to the local authorities so that they can monitor and ensure the successful implementation of the development and continue to work closely with local communities.

Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy's chief executive, said the agreement provided "a strong springboard for success".

He said: "This is a landmark agreement for the people of Somerset and for the project.

"During three years of consultation, we have worked very closely with the local authorities and other groups to identify and mitigate the impact of our proposals.

"I am delighted that we have agreed a targeted investment programme that will support local communities.

"It heralds a new phase in the Hinkley project and is another important stepping stone ahead of our final investment decision.

" We look forward to moving ahead in partnership and realising the many opportunities that this important development will deliver, locally and for the nation."

The leader of West Somerset Council, Cllr Tim Taylor, said the agreement was a "significant step" in the Hinkley C project and welcomed the funding for local residents.

"The contributions secured ensure that we can put in place measures and initiatives to balance the need to make sure that the benefits of the project are directed towards the most affected communities against minimising the adverse effects of the project.

"I am particularly pleased that we have secured over £500,000 to support West Somerset's tourist industry, more than £1 million to bolster businesses within our district, over £2 million to improve skills and training initiatives, including £1.6 million towards West Somerset Community College, and the ability to access over £5 million of housing contributions to help meet one of the council's top objectives.

"We are now focusing all our energy on ensuring long-lasting and positive legacy for West Somerset, should consent be granted by the Secretary of State next year."

Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council's cabinet member for economic development, said all three local authorities had worked hard with EDF to try and minimise any negative impacts from the proposed development.

"Very good progress has been made and with the benefit of the additional measures that EDF will now be putting in place we believe the project will be acceptable should the Secretary of State grant consent," Cllr Hall said.

As well as being subject to planning consent, the £64 million funding package is also reliant on a final investment decision being made on the Hinkley Point C project by EDF before the end of this year.