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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Robert Booth UK technology editor

London Eye architect proposes 14-mile tidal power station off Somerset coast

A water-sports marina and lido either side of a section of the lagoon pathway, behind it yachts against a setting sun
An architects’ visualisation of the £11bn West Somerset Lagoon tidal power project from Minehead to Watchet, including a water-sports marina and lido. Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

The architect of the London Eye wants to build a vast tidal power station in a 14-mile arc off the coast of Somerset that could help Britain meet surging electricity demand to power artificial intelligence – and create a new race track to let cyclists skim over the Bristol Channel.

Julia Barfield, who designed the Eye and the i360 observation tower in Brighton, is part of a team that has drawn up the £11bn proposal. It would curve from Minehead to Watchet and use 125 underwater turbines to harness the power of the second-highest tidal range in the world.

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