First Minister Carwyn Jones has pledged a “substantial” investment from the Welsh Government to help kick-start plans for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.
Though no exact figure has been given, a source in the Welsh Government told BBC Wales that the sums involved in the offer could be in the tens of millions of pounds.
Though it has been almost a year since an independent review recommended the UK Government back the scheme, the company behind it have been struggling to agree any subsidy with UK ministers.
Despite Jones’ claim that the lagoon would help the UK to become “a world leader in a new global industry”, there have been concerns raised about the scheme’s “value for money”, especially given that a strike price for the energy it would produce has not yet been agreed.
“Transformative project”
The lagoon is expected to cost £1.3 billion, and create thousands of new jobs. If the project is given the go-ahead, it is believed it could supply a significant proportion of the UK’s energy.
This would be good news for Swansea landlords as new job opportunities are likely to increase the demand for quality, professional accommodation towards the east of the city – and perhaps further afield, as some people are likely to be comfortable with a short commute.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Theresa May, Jones said there was a “growing sense of frustration among the Welsh business community and an increasing risk that the lack of a decision will turn into a decision not to proceed.”
He urged the UK Government to “stop stalling”, and called the project “transformative”.
We are still awaiting the answer from Theresa May and the UK Government.
Source: BBC / Tidal Lagoon Power
