A planning decision over the multi billion pound Wylfa Newydd development will be made almost a year later than expected, the UK Government has confirmed.

The multi-billion pound project was suspended in January 2019 after Japanese tech giant, Hitachi, failed to reach a funding deal with the UK government under Theresa May.

But in what had hoped would be a kick-starter to restarting the project the UK Government was expected to grant vital planning permission, known as a Development Consent Order, to construct the £12bn  power station.

Having been pushed back last year to allow more information to be made available on the environmental impacts, a decision had been expected by Tuesday, March 31.

But the issue has once again been kicked the issue into the long grass, with no judgement now expected until late September – almost a year later than had been planned.

A statement by the Planning Inspectorate on Wednesday, noted: “The deadline for the decision on the proposed Wylfa Newydd (Nuclear Generating Station) Order application was 23 October 2019 but that deadline was reset to 31 March 2020 to allow further information in respect of environmental effects and other outstanding issues to be provided and considered.

“Following initial analysis of the further information which has now been provided, the Secretary of State has concluded that an additional period of time is required in order to complete his consideration in respect of environmental effects and other issues which were outstanding following the examination.

“The Secretary of State (Alok Sharma)  has decided to re-set the statutory deadline for this application to 30 September 2020.

“As Parliament is not sitting, a statement confirming the new deadline for a decision will be made to the House of Commons and House of Lords in accordance with section 107(7) of the Planning Act 2008 as soon as possible after Parliament resumes.”

A spokesman for Horizon Nuclear Power, a subsiduary of Hitachi, said they were “disappointed” but that the delay was “not unexpected given the current national circumstances.”

He added, “We understand why the Secretary of State needs further time to complete his considerations.

“We are pleased to note that no further information has been requested but stand ready to assist in any way needed to ensure that a decision can be reached on this crucial project.”

The island’s MP, Virginia Crosbie, shared the “disappointment” but understood that the Government is “currently involved in more pressing matters.”

She added, “I continue to support clean nuclear energy as the only way to meet our 2050 net zero carbon target.

“My focus remains Anglesey’s future prosperity and unleashing the potential of Wales as a whole.”

But a spokesman for anti-nuclear group People Against Wylfa B said that despite the minister “not been satisfied by answers provided,” they are calling for the Wylfa Newydd plans to be “totally rejected.”

“The national policy statement for nuclear power adopted several years ago is completely outdated and rather than approving this obviously defective application, the Westminster government should start from scratch with a thorough review of their energy policy and to recognise that renewable technologies like wind, solar and marine have totally undermined any reason for investing billions of pounds in nuclear power.

“A green revolution can create thousands of jobs in Wales and the other countries of Britain without the threat of nuclear disasters and poisonous radioactive waste and their effects on human and environmental health for

thousands of years.”