Opportunities and Challenges of MB & DE tidal gateway project

last minute revision ftw

Renewable energy - opportunities

130 turbines will generate enough energy for 2 million homes, saving £370 million a year through emissions free energy

Renewables energy - challenges

Costs £10bn to build - 10x more expensive than building an equivalent onshore wind farm

Transport links - opportunities

• Reduce journey times from North Lancashire to West Cumbria by 75%

• 9 million journeys over the crossings annually

• Save 750k litres of fuel per year

• Save £250mn with improved transport

Transport links - challenges

Existing infrastructure (e.g. the M6) will be under greater pressure for the 25 year construction time (possibly longer with delays)

Environmental protection - opportunities

Protect current habitats from climate change and coastal erosion by controlling tides - NTPG will work with local environmental agencies to ensure this

Environmental protection - challenges

25 year construction timeline will affect large numbers of birds and wildlife for an extended period of time

Local employment - opportunities

Creation of 13,000 jobs enabling regeneration of Lancashire and Cumbria as new industry will generate £20bn over 20 years

Local employment - challenges

May lead to more people leaving Barrow-In-Furness to work elsewhere, worsening the economic situation there

Flood protection - opportunities

Saves £100mn a year by protecting the environment against future flooding and storm damage

Increase in tourism - opportunities

Improved access to the Lake District

Increase in tourism - challenges

Locals say area is already overcrowded in summer

Habitat and biodiversity - challenges

Potential to damage the high biodiversity of the region: Morecambe Bay is a SSSI, AONB, largest area of tidal mudflats in the UK and has 4 nature reserves in the region.

Reducing inequality - opportunities

Scheme would bring new transport links and skilled employmnet to a relatively impoverished area - Barrow-in-Furness in particular is especially deprived: £400mn a year in economic growth for the local area