Mersey Tidal barrage , LCRCA, p via LCRCA

The Liverpool City Region has one of the UK’s largest tidal ranges and plans to build a barrage over the Mersey have been floated since 1924. Credit: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Locals keen on Rotheram’s ‘world-leading’ tidal power dream

An overwhelming 84% of more than 3,000 Merseyside residents surveyed support proposals to construct the largest tidal power barrage on earth in the River Mersey, according to the LCRCA.

The survey also revealed that 92% of respondents support the need for more renewable energy produced locally within the city region.

Mersey Tidal Power – which would take between seven and 10 years to build and cost billions – would provide homes across the city with 120 years of predictable energy by harnessing the tides of its river.

A consultation on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s plan ran from 1 October to 15 November last year and included 10 drop-in events, attended by more than 1,200 people.

Mayor of Liverpool City Region, 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.

“While no decisions have been made yet, this is an exciting opportunity for the city region, and we’re determined to ensure that the voices of local people are central to the development of this world-leading project.”

The tidal barrage would contain a power generation system, able to generate up to one gigawatt of electricity. In addition, gates to allow ships to pass, and grid connection would be needed.

Tidal power is well suited for the North West coast, which has a predictable tidal pattern that repeats itself every 17.5 years.

The project is deemed a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ under the Planning Act 2008, meaning an application for a development consent order will be required, which will be determined by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the secretary of state for energy security and net zero.

In addition to energy generation, the scheme would see Liverpool linked with the Wirral peninsula with people able to cross the barrage via a walking and cycling route.

Cllr Anthony Burns, LCRCA cabinet member for net zero, added: “We’re confident that the Mersey Tidal Power project, which would be the largest of its kind in the World, has a vital part to play in helping the transition away from fossil fuels to green, renewable electricity.

“But we know that we have to have the support of the public to move ahead with this transformational project and that’s why we’re committed to speaking with and listening to local people as we continue the project’s development.”

Of respondents to the consultation, 36% said they lived in Liverpool, with 28% from the Wirral, and 14% from Sefton.

Fewer responses were from St Helens and Warrington, while 3% of respondents stated they lived in other areas, such as Cheshire East, Lancashire, Manchester, Yorkshire, and London, with some adding they previously lived within one of the listed areas but have since moved away.

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We live on an island. We should be surrounded by tidal power stations. Our issue is government contracts are full of leakage and overheads that you just don’t encounter in the private sector

By Tomo

I admire the ambition but a touch of reality is needed here. This project is never going to happen!

By Anonymous

I dont think anyone ever questioned whether the public would support it, but whether the treasury will

By Anonymous

A positive response, so now lets get this project off the ground and create cheap energy and boost to the local economy and jobs. A commitment should also be made to use local companies and supply chains were possible.

By GetItBuilt!

Who will fund this? The construction costs will run into the many billions.
How will they mitigate against cost-overruns? The engineering challenges posed by a deep river and powerful tide are just two obvious areas for unforeseen expense and risk.
What are the plans for upstream port operations? Who will pay the cost of the additional lock time? Has a market sensitivity study been done for this?
The Mersey tidal flats are home to a surprisingly varied and robust flaura and fauna. What will be the impact on their habitat loss?
So many questions…

By Anonymous

84% of self-selecting people who chose to take part in the consultation were in favour? Well, they would be, wouldn’t they, as with 92% of people opting to comment on a renewable energy scheme that wouldn’t spoil their view generally being in favour of renewable energy.
Doesn’t stop it still being an entirely pie in sky scheme which has never been shown to be deliverable in all the years it’s already been knocking round, which would cause major ecology issues in the Mersey Estuary, with similar projects not being undeliverable elsewhere, even if adding an active travel path ticks another box in a strategy.
Still a good thing to wave around when there are no actual successes to report, and plenty of ongoing work for consultants.

By Oglet

Presumably this government will wave it through regardless of the environmental impacts

By Anonymous

Tidal power is well suited for the North West coast, which has a predictable tidal pattern that repeats itself every 17.5 years.

really???

By Anonymous

3,000 comments while the City Region has a population of 1.6m, a small number of the participants aren’t even living here.
In the meantime how about the Mayor extending our Merseyrail system, or championing Liverpool Airport instead of backing rail links to Mcr Airport.

By Anonymous

And yet not mentioned once today by LSE connected Reeves, in the things she is keen on.

This is a pipe dream which will never happen.

By Jeff

Any barrage should include provision for either rail or road links between Liverpool and Wirral, thus taking pressure off the congested city centre and providing easier access to John Lennon Airport from the Wirral

By Anonymous

Sorry but any scheme that results in everything upstream of New Brighton becoming a boating lake is not for me! The Ship Canal, Bromborough, Laird’s Garston Dock will all face vastly increased overheads and restrictions on trade and Pier Head without ships – unthinkable! A scheme from Speke to Ellesmere Port would avoid all these problems but is probably not fashionable enough for today’s chattering classes!

By Old and Cynical

Dream, the headline says it all. What’s the cost estimate and payback period . I suspect its 70years + . Yes its great to have renewables, a mixed power generation strategy and ambition together with support although when it comes to the investment it’ll need an underwrite. I’m not sure it’ll give enough bang for the bucks when the blob reviews it ‘s cost benefit, timescale and potential to leak (excuse pun) costs

By Skeptacal

Go idea….get it built.

By Anonymous

A detect a hint of cynicism in some of the comments!

By Anonymous

This is nothing more than a classic deflection strategy from a mayor who wants to look busy and purposeful but who, in reality, has delivered very little.
He might as well stand on St George’s Plateau and shout ‘squirrel!’.

By Buyer Beware

Meanwhile Manchester puts forward projects that will actually happen

By George

There no profit because it just build a bridge that mean no invites of jobs and no local economy just spend all money for just bridge it risk of into blackhole for nothing.

By Mr G J Kitchener

Mayor Rotheram’s ‘flight of fancy’ is full of big ideas but totally lacking in any detail. Where will the barrage be constructed? How will its construction affect any nearby homes? What additional infrastructure be put in place during its construction and what is the timescale from planning to final opening and people walking across it? There are just so, so many questions to be answered. The idea of the barrage has been around for years and after a time it has been filed away and forgotten about. This barrage is an idea of pure fantasy and is just a way of getting publicity for anyone involved in it and it will never happen. Those surveyed that say they will support it would soon change their minds if their homes or businesses were affected by its construction. I believe it will remain purely as a dream for Mayor Rotheram and the consultants involved in its planning.

By Brendan R

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