Both of the West's potential new nuclear power stations – Hinkley Point in Somerset and Oldbury in South Gloucestershire – are suitable, the Government said yesterday.

Its formal response to public consultation on the sites said there were a number of areas that would have to be considered if there is a formal application for development consent at Hinkley.

These include the impact of the proposal in combination with any other relevant nuclear power stations – such as Oldbury – and in particular the effect on the biodiversity of the area including the Severn Estuary.

The key themes raised in the consultation included concerns about the health and visual impacts of new nuclear power stations, as well as the effect on internationally and nationally designated sites of ecological importance.

The Government says issues that will need to be considered at Oldbury include the prevention of flood risk, the eventual nature of any new cooling towers and the impact on the ecology of the Severn Estuary.

The main concerns raised in the consultation included flood risk, proximity to civil aviation and the visual impact of potential cooling towers, while there were a number of comments about health issues.