Tidal barrage could become major link between Wirral and Liverpool - report

An artist's impression of how the barrage could look

A tidal barrage across the Mersey could provide a major new link between Wirral and Liverpool, a new report said.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority report said people could cross the river on foot or cycle over.

The multi-billion pound scheme aims to power one million homes and reduce carbon emissions.

The report said the project was the "first of a kind" in the UK, building a barrage with turbines, sluices and marine navigation locks.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the combined authority hoped to have it delivered by 2040 to operate for 120 years alongside four new offshore wind developments expected by 2030 - although this will require substantial government backing.

The planned barrage includes street furniture, cyclists and "rest points along the route".

The tidal range turbines would generate 25 mega watts each from 28 turbines, generating power by turning with the tide, although sluice gates would also be used to let water pass quickly through the barrage if needed.

The proposal would play a huge role in the region's push to net zero carbon by 2040

The report stated the proposed project needed government support for tidal range technology, funding, a financing bill and a "common approach" to avoid the high costs some offshore wind farms face.

The combined authority's devolution agreement should be extended to explore tidal range power, secure development grant funding support, and build a north west supply chain and manufacturing base, the report added.

Wirral Council will vote next week on a motion by Liberal Democrat councillors requesting the local authority's regeneration director obtain technical information.

Lib Dem leader Phil Gilchrist said: "Certainly there is a vision. We do need to know if there are any drawbacks."

A Combined Authority spokesman said the project "has the potential to provide enough clean, predictable and renewable energy to power up to one million homes for 120 years and create thousands of local jobs."

The spokesman added the scale of the project "takes time to plan and exploration work to determine the operating model is still ongoing".