Published: October 30, 2009
Severn Barrage project 'could be scrapped to save costs' claims report

The government has denied a national newspaper report claiming that the project to build a Severn Barrage across the Bristol Channel could be scrapped.

The Times reported on Friday (October 30th) that the project will be shelved as part of a cost-cutting drive by the government.

However, the Department of Energy and Climate Change says it is waiting on the results of a feasibility study due to be published in 2010 and that there are "many factors" to look at before making a decision.

The newspaper said plans to build a 10-mile long tidal barrage, that could generate up to 5% of Britain's electricity, are likely to be shelved under a government cost-cutting drive.

It added that the £23bn project is set to be indefinitely postponed early next year when ministers announce whether to commit fresh public funding.

The barrage could be built between Lavernock Point near Cardiff, to Brean Down near Burnham-On-Sea.

Burnham's residents were given an overview of the five schemes earlier this year (listed right) during the consultation period, however there was little support locally for the proposals amid concerns about flooding and the impact on jobs and tourism.

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change told the BBC on Friday: "We have always said we are seriously interested in the prospect of generating power from the Severn, which has huge potential for generating renewable power."

"However there are many factors to taken into account in reaching a decision on whether to go ahead, including impacts and costs. That is why we are conducting a feasibility study which is looking at a range of different technologies and pulling together a robust evidence base."

"We said in our renewable energy strategy that we don't assume a Severn tidal scheme is necessary to meet our 2020 renewable targets as government does not want to pre-judge the feasibility study conclusions."

Many proposals for barrages and lagoons in the Bristol Channel have been considered in recent years, as pictured above, but the Brean Down to Lavernock Point scheme, pictured below, appears to be the favoured scheme.