Specialist Planning Advice Offered to World’s first Tidal Lagoon Scheme

Leading environmental firm SLR Consulting (UK) has been appointed to provide strategic planning advice for the world’s first tidal lagoon power station in Swansea Bay ahead of an application to the Planning Inspectorate later this year.

The project, by developer Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay PLC (TLSB) will be capable of generating 240MW of renewable energy on both the flood and ebb tide, providing enough electricity for all of Swansea’s domestic use. The lagoon will also act as a sporting and leisure destination for water sports, along with opportunities for walking and cycling on the lagoon wall.

SLR is supporting TLSB through the provision of specialist Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) consenting advice as well as preparing the project’s supporting Planning Statement, alongside input from the client’s legal advisors DLA Piper.  

SLR Senior Planner, Mike Harris, who prior to joining SLR worked for the NSIP planning regulator, said: “Our involvement in this world first marine energy scheme demonstrates SLR’s expertise across the renewable energy sector and the growing NSIP market.”

TLSB’s Head of Planning, Alex Herbert added: “The planning regime for projects such as ours is multifaceted and we value the clear thinking and strategic input Mike and the SLR team have provided ahead of our planning submission.”