UK Government denies Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon development planning consent extension

The UK Government has denied the extension of the planning consent for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project on the southern coast of Wales.

The Swansea Council has written to the project developer, Tidal Power Plc, stating that the development consent order (DCO) has expired with the conditions not been compiled. The need authorization is needed before any work would commence in the area. 

In a letter from the UK Government, through its Department for Business, Environment and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), it was said that the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project did not meet the criteria for the exploration of marine technologies that harness the clean, natural energy of our tides and offshore wind, and would deliver a good deal for consumers. The project would have to ask for a seabed license from the Crown Estate and a marine license from Natural Resources Wales to proceed for the development. 

In 2018, a member of the Swansea Council has raised objection to the refusal of the UK Government to support the project citing the need for the area. The project is projected to generate 1,000 jobs during construction and almost 200 full-time jobs during operation.