Laing O’Rourke has been named preferred bidder for the £200m contract for civil engineering works on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project. Laing O’Rourke will build the 410-metre turbine house and sluice gate structure on the £1bn renewable energy project. This element of the build will require up to 500 workers at peak construction.
Laing O’Rourke has named Arup as its lead design and engineering partner for the contract.
Andrew McNaughton, the former Balfour Beatty boss who joined the development company Tidal Lagoon Power as director of engineering & construction earlier this month, will lead the delivery of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. He 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.”
Following advanced works and value engineering, a fixed price contract will be signed later this year for the main build. Tenders have also been run for the project’s marine works package and for a package to provide public realm ancillary works. The results of these tenders will be announced shortly. Further tenders for the construction of a turbine assembly plant in Wales, and for the lagoon’s public realm and buildings work will proceed through the summer.
