It really is now or never for a Severn barrage project

Severn Estuary.

It has been talked about for decades, but will we ever see a Severn barrage built?

The last detailed proposed scheme, from a company called Hafren Power, was rejected by the UK Government in 2013. While it did have widespread backing on the Welsh side of the estuary it failed to gain traction on the English side, where the Port of Bristol in particular lobbied effectively against the project based on concerns to its shipping flows.

The lesson from the past is getting critical cross-border buy-in from the outset – while there will be environmental concerns.

And this is where at last there are cautious grounds for optimism with the cross-border Western Gateway Partnership, made up of local authorities, business and universities across South Wales and the west of England, having established an independent commission to look at the feasibility of a barrage.

Depending on its location, a barrage could generate between 5% to 10% of the UK’s electricity needs by generating clean power from one of the world’ highest tidal ranges, However, a project of such scale and complexity, and yes cost at tens of billions of pounds, will need to be championed by governments both in Cardiff Bay and Westminster. But it is the latter which would be crucial, not just with an agreed strike price, but by seeking to de-risk the project through a hybrid bill.

And there is a strong case that any barrage could see a future government having an ownership stake in a project deemed of national strategic importance. There could also be an investment role for UK pension funds. A barrage shouldn’t just be seen as an important player in helping to make the UK more energy self-sufficient, but also in the context of climate change. A barrage could be a bulwark against rising sea levels.

Any return on investment assessment should factor in the billions it could save in preventing flood damage to homes and businesses on both sides of the estuary. It could also, while more expensive, potentially provide new road and rail connections between Wales and England.

So, will a barrage, which is currently not on the agenda of any of the main political parties, ever be realised? Well, those who say they have seen it all before, would be justified in being sceptical this time.

However, if the commission concludes it is a project that can and should happen, it would start in arguably its best ever place with the cross-border endorsement provided by the Western Gateway Partnership.