An Taisce challenges Hinkley Point nuclear plant 5 December 2013 Last updated at 11:03 The National Trust of Ireland is expected to take a challenge to plans for a new nuclear power plant in the west of England to court later. The trust - An Taisce - is seeking a judicial review at the High Court in London. The plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset - 150 miles from the Irish coast - was granted planning permission by Energy Secretary Ed Davey last month. An Taisce is challenging the legality of the decision. Its lawyers say there was a failure to consult with the Irish people beforehand and that consultation would have allowed proper and full consideration of the impact of the plant across boundaries. James Nix, policy director for An Taisce, said: "This case is not about interfering with the right of the UK authorities to make their own decisions, nor about being pro or anti-nuclear. It is about ensuring that the rights and interests of the Irish public and their concern for their environment are not excluded from those decisions, and that the Irish public is properly consulted in accordance with the law on a project of this nature. Ireland's agriculture, food, fishing and tourism - which are our essential indigenous industries - are critically dependent on the quality of our environment, as is the health of our people. This is therefore a matter of considerable importance and concern for Irish people, and for our interest in our environment. An Taisce is an environmental charity and is independent from the Irish government, which is not involved in the judicial review. When the UK energy secretary approved the Hinkley Point development in April, Mr Davey said the project was "of crucial national importance." The proposed £14bn power plant, to be developed by the French energy company EDF, would be capable of powering five million homes. EDF said the project could create up to 25,000 jobs during the construction period.