Atkins has been appointed as client’s engineer on the 320MW Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project in Wales, UK.

Under the contract awarded by Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Plc, Atkins will provide specialist design and engineering support, including producing outline designs for the breakwater, turbine house and ancillary works and supporting the tender process by helping develop documents and reviewing responses and detailed designs.

Once a design and build contractor is appointed and construction work starts in Spring 2015, Atkins said it will also provide a range of site supervision, auditing and technical checking services.

"This is a major civil engineering project which combines a wide range of disciplines from building services, power and architecture to structural and marine engineering," said Mike McNicholas, managing director of Atkins’ UK design and engineering business. "It is a world first and something which will make a positive difference to people in the UK and possibly wider afield. As designers and engineers, these are the things that make us get out of bed in the morning and it’s great to be part of the team."

Image: Artist illustration of the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon