Contractor named preferred bidder for civils package

Swansea tidal lagoon

Laing O’Rourke has been named preferred bidder for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon’s £200m turbine house contract.

Laing O’Rourke will deliver the key civils package on the renewable energy project in South Wales, which is worth £850m overall.

Arup is lead design and engineering partner for the 1,345ft long turbine house and water flow sluice, which will produce the energy for the lagoon once the project is complete.

Tidal Lagoon Power’s director of construction Andrew McNaughton said: “Announcing that Laing O’Rourke is joining the team is a major step forward for the project.

“As preferred bidder, their contribution over the next few months alongside General Electric and Andritz Hydro will be invaluable in preparing for delivery on site in 2016.”

Laing O’Rourke project lead Jonathan Adams said: “From London 2012 to St Pancras International Station to Heathrow Terminal 5, we’ve been involved in the delivery of some of the UK’s most celebrated infrastructure projects.

“Today, the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon is the talk of the international construction industry and we are thrilled to be playing a part in its delivery.”

The project is expected to employ 1,850 workers during the construction of the lagoon, with materials sourced locally where possible. A contract for the main build of the lagoon itself is expected to be announced later this year.