Wind farm planned on River Mersey

Three turbines are planned in Sefton and two in Liverpool

Five wind turbines may be built along the River Mersey by this time next year if the £12m plans get the green light.

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has submitted planning applications to build three turbines in Sefton and two in Liverpool.

It says the environmentally-friendly project would generate enough power to service all the households in a town the size of Wallasey or Crosby.

Turbines would be placed 2km apart from West Alexandra Dock to Huskisson Dock.

Local communities

Each one would be able to produce up to 3 megawatts of electricity - five times the power each of the turbines on Seaforth Dock are capable of generating.

Much of the power is expected to be sold to a supplier serving local communities.

The turbines would be 90 metres tall with 45 metre-long blades.

Mersey Docks Chief Engineer Tim Bownes said: "We believe these new turbines will prove as much a complementary river front feature as the established units at Seaforth Dock.

"The new turbines have to be considerably taller than their predecessors to operate efficiently in their up-river and more sheltered location.

"But they will be positioned on the river wall of an industrial port environment with other high structures and will be at least a kilometre from the nearest residential property," he said.