One of the sleeping giants of Gloucestershire's cluster of energy firms has submitted what it calls "major plans" - which could be its ticket to significant growth.

Horizon Nuclear Power has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for permission to build its lead project - a new nuclear power station at Wylfa Newydd, on the Isle of Anglesey.

It may be energising the staff at the Brockworth-headquartered company - potentially a FTSE 100 firm in the making - but pity the poor planners who have to tackle the 41,000 page Development Consent Order.

A measure of just how complex such applications are, it contains 440 documents and 400 drawings and spells out how Horizon plans to develop the site from a "technical, logistical and social point of view".

Duncan Hawthorne, CEO of Horizon, said: "This is an important day for Horizon. The applications are the product of an enormous amount of work and I'd like to thank the team for all the effort put into the submissions. I'd also like to thank our stakeholders and members of the public for their input.

"As we progress with the next phase of our permit applications, the hard work will continue, and I'm confident we have a great team in place to drive forward our progress."

In addition to the DCO, Horizon has also submitted key applications for a Marine Licence, Operations Combustion permit, Operations Water Discharge permit and Construction Water Discharge permit from Natural Resources Wales.

To obtain consent Horizon has to demonstrate a robust design and show it has assessed its environmental impacts across the power station facilities and associated developments and, where possible, eliminated, reduced or mitigated these impacts.

The Planning Inspectorate now has 28 days to decide whether the DCO application.

If it accepts the DCO members of the public and other stakeholders will then have the opportunity to comment on Horizon's plans as part of the process.

A final outcome is expected in approximately 17-18 months.