LDA Design, an independent design, environment and energy business, has been appointed as masterplanners and landscape architects for the world’s first man-made energy-generating lagoon – the £650 million Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project being developed by Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Ltd.
Under the proposals, the lagoon would offer 250MW of installed tidal power capacity; reliable, predictable electricity generation for 120 years; with a capability of 16 hours’ generation every day. It would produce enough electricity to power around 107,000 homes, and create savings of over 200,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
LDA Design’s masterplanning of the lagoon includes sea and landside areas. On the seaward side, the work includes the establishment of new lagoon walls which will capture an area of water that will form the focus for a dynamic public realm, including new beaches and water-based leisure, with water sports and mariculture. Landside areas will link to Swansea port and Swansea University’s new waterside campus, providing a visitor centre and sports facilities, and new public realm, connecting to the city centre.
The visitor centre offers community benefits, such as education, arts, culture, recreation and sporting opportunities, to help showcase the project and explain its benefits and contribution to energy production.
Alex Herbert, Head of Planning for Tidal Lagoon Power Limited says: “ We are pleased to have appointed LDA Design on the project as they bring experience in both the Development Consent Order process as well as design excellence through recent projects, including the London 2012 Olympic Park and some of the UK’s greatest seafront resorts.”
Alistair Kratt, Partner at LDA Design , said: “We are masterplanning a new public realm and facilities along an area of seafront that has been cut off from the public for over a century. This project holds the potential to act as a catalyst for the continued regeneration of the Swansea Bay City region.”
“The UK faces increasing demand for electricity, and this tidal lagoon and the establishment of a fantastic new tidal facility meets the criteria for sustainable, longer term energy solutions.”
A planning application is expected to be made to Planning Inspectorate in autumn 2013 for this Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). If approved, the plans could be put into place ready for the power generation system to be turned on in 2017.
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Press release, April 4, 2013; Image: tidallagoonswanseabay