Weightmans appointed to Mersey tidal power project

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has appointed national law firm Weightmans as its principal legal advisor on The Mersey tidal power project.

Weightmans will help develop the outline business case for the renewable energy scheme, which aims to help make the Liverpool City Region carbon neutral by 2040.

The firm will work on national planning consents, environmental regulation and the project’s commercial strategy, which is expected to involve partnerships with the private sector and other third-party organisations.

A multi-disciplinary team spread across the firm’s Liverpool headquarters and wider national network was appointed following a competitive tender process, which heard proposals from firms across the UK.

Stephen Johns, infrastructure partner and project lead at Weightmans, said: “The provision of renewable infrastructure is now essential and it’s extremely rewarding to see the city region we’re headquartered in take the lead.

“We’ll draw on the expertise across our entire firm and experience in this field, including our recent work on the Wylfa nuclear power station in Wales and the Liverpool2 container terminal, to support an innovative, ambitious proposal.

“We hope it will be a future blueprint for the benefits of clean energy and the potential success that regional devolution can bring.”

A spokesperson for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “Weightmans combines a strong Liverpool pedigree with a UK-wide team and expertise in advising on projects of national significance and environmental regulation.

“We are confident that, together, we’ll lay the groundwork for a successful project that delivers a carbon-neutral future for the people of the Liverpool City Region.”