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MPs reject Severn Barrage plan

MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee have criticised a £30bn plan to build a barrage across the Severn Estuary. They say developers have 'failed to address commercial and environmental concerns', and the scheme's viability is 'unproven.'

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Developers: MPs' report 'unhelpful and frustrating'

Hafren Power, the developers behind the Severn Barrage plan, says today's critical report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee is "unhelpful and frustrating" - but says it will press on with the project.

The report is unhelpful and frustrating – we all know we have a lot more work to do and we will do it.

The Government has already told us it is not against the barrage and we are determined to press ministers and officials to engage fully. We believe the environmental and economic issues can be solved with everyone working together.

Unlike smaller schemes, only a barrage can harness the full power potential of the estuary and do it economically. It will also be much cheaper and last much longer than offshore wind farms which have high levels of public subsidy.

Britain needs more infrastructure projects, especially power generation. Our proposal delivers in spades – up to £25 billion in private investment, 20,000 construction jobs and a further 30,000 jobs supported, and the cheapest zero carbon electricity over its lifetime.

– Tony Pryor, Chief Executive, Hafren Power

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