Arup will serve as Laing O’Rourke’s lead design and engineering partner for the contract, which will create about 500 jobs during peak construction phase.
Tidal Lagoon Power engineering and construction director Andrew McNaughton said: "Announcing that Laing O’Rourke is joining the team is a major step forward for the project.
"As preferred bidder, their contribution over the next few months alongside General Electric and Andritz Hydro will be invaluable in preparing for delivery on site in 2016."
A fixed price contract will be signed later this year for the main build after advanced works and value engineering.
Tenders have also been launched for the project’s marine works package and public realm ancillary works. Results are due to be unveiled shortly.
Additional tenders will be issued later this year for the construction of a turbine assembly facility in Wales, and for the public realm and buildings work.
The 320MW project will be built in the Severn Estuary, which has the second highest tidal range in the world.
The plant will deliver more than 500 GWh of energy for over 155,000 homes and reduce in excess of 236,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
UK Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change will determine the project’s application for a development consent order by 10 June 2015.
The first phase of discussions with the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change over a possible contract for difference for the project were unveiled in the Chancellor’s budget in March 2015.
Image: The £1bn Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project will be built in the Severn Estuary. Photo: Courtesy of Andritz Hydro.
