MORE than 2,500 people and organisations have had their say on the world’s largest tidal power scheme – with two days still to go until the public consultation closes.

A final engagement event was held on Saturday and an online survey created as part of the Mersey Tidal Power project’s first public consultation will close on Friday, November 15. 

Starting on October 1, the consultation is allowing people to have their say on plans for the world’s largest tidal power scheme which would provide clean, predictable energy for 120 years, power hundreds of thousands of homes and create thousands of jobs.

The project is currently in the formal planning process, with the submission of a scoping report to the Planning Inspectorate to agree the ecology surveys that will need to be prepared ahead of a planning submission in 2026.

Submitting a scoping opinion is the first step towards preparing a Development Control Order (DCO) submission – a process which typically takes two to three years.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This ground-breaking project could shape our region for generations to come. It will offer the potential to power hundreds of thousands of homes with clean energy for the next 120 years. We need as many people as possible to give us their views on these proposals to ensure we get it right.

“Whether it’s about the energy benefits, job creation or the potential for new walking and cycling infrastructure, I would encourage everyone to get involved before the consultation closes.”

Feedback from the consultation will help develop project proposals and will be considered alongside ongoing engineering design and environmental assessment work.

The scheme – the “first of a kind” in the UK – could generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years and create thousands of jobs in its construction and operation.

It also opens the possibility of a first-ever cycling and pedestrian route over the river between Liverpool and Wirral and could provide a defence against future flooding risks associated with climate change.

Over the last three years, the authority has undertaken early technical work to develop the potential scope of the scheme, which could be up and running within a decade, playing a huge role in the region’s push to be net zero carbon by 2035 – at least a decade ahead of national targets.

Mersey Tidal Power would add to offshore wind, hydrogen and solar projects as the city region becomes the UK’s Renewable Energy Coast – providing greater domestic energy security.

A dedicated consultation website has also been created at www.merseytidal.co.uk and hosts information on the scheme as well as an on-line survey.