More than 100 new caravans could be sited near a popular Somerset wedding venue to provide accommodation for people building the county’s new nuclear power station.

Work is proceeding on the construction of Hinkley Point C on the west Somerset coast, with the new facility expected to be fully operational by June 2027.

EDF Energy has put forward an initial enquiry – known as a screening request  – to expand its current accommodation at the Quantock Lakes site near Nether Stowey, on the edge of the Quantock Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

The council has approved the initial screening request, meaning formal plans to enlarge the site could come forward for approval before Christmas.

A total of 8,600 workers will be needed during the peak of the construction programme on the new nuclear power station, located north of Shurton – around 3,000 higher than was originally predicted.

To provide some of the accommodation for this “workforce uplift”, EDF Energy has opted to expand the three camp-sites which it currently operates, along with its existing campuses in Bridgwater and near the power station itself.

The Quantock Lakes camp-site – located next to the eponymous wedding venue and the park and ride facility – will be expanded to the south with 103 extra caravan pitches being allowed to remain in place until 2025.

Ruth Jones, senior planner at EDF Energy, said: “A total of 103 caravan pitches are to be created at the site, connecting to the existing provision already on offer at Inwood Farm.

“A welfare building will provide shower facilities, a recreation room and a site office associated with the additional caravan provision in this location.

“Internal roads will be developed to link the proposed development to the existing caravan site to the north-west.

“Vehicles accessing this new area of caravans will be directed from the main Quantock Lakes entrance, past the current park and ride facility and through the existing area of caravans.”

The other two camp-sites being used by EDF Energy – the Mill Farm Camping and Caravan Park in Fiddington and Moorhouse Farm near Holford – will both be expanded as well, with at least 360 new pitches being provided across the three locations.

An additional 160 beds will be created at the Hinkley Campus near the power station, and a further 320 at the Sedgemoor Campus on the A39 Bath Road in Bridgwater.

Formal plans for the Quantock Lakes expansion are expected to be submitted to the council within the next couple of months.