The cash will be used by three Somerset Councils affected by the Hinkley C nuclear power station project.

More than £16m will go to road improvements, particularly for Bridgwater, a park and ride site and a bypass for the village of Cannington. A further £8.5m will be ploughed into housing improvements.

A Community Foundation will also hand out £12.8m in grants to the local community to “enhance the quality of life in local communities”.

EDF has also paid £30m to local services to allow preparatory work to get underway earlier this year.