Plans to build the world’s largest tidal power scheme on the River Mersey have received strong support in its first public engagement.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is working to develop the Mersey Tidal Power Project, that could produce up to 1GW of renewable energy.

More than 3,000 responses were received to a public consultation, with 84 per cent backing the project and 92 per cent supporting the need for more renewable energy to be produced in the Liverpool City Region.

Speaking about the consultation response, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, said: “The response to the first phase of the consultation has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that there is strong support for the Mersey Tidal Power project as we explore ways to generate clean, renewable energy for the region.”

The Project is deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act 2008, meaning that an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) will be required which will be determined by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Findings from the consultation will be considered in the development of the project, which will include further engineering design work, stakeholder and landowner engagement, and environmental assessments.

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