Major project to protect gas supply to 16,000 homes in Cheshire nears completion

A £2m project to protect the safe supply of gas to 16,000 homes in Cheshire is entering its final days.

Described by a senior engineer as “one of the most challenging projects on the North West gas network in years”, the creation of a new pressure management station in Hartford is now nearing completion.

Cadent, which manages the local gas network, had identified that the current above-ground facility – which was built in the 1950s, beside a footpath off the A556, near Hartford Bridge – required urgent replacement.

Known as a ‘governor’, this is an important part of the gas distribution system. It brings gas pressures down to safe levels for onward travel into around 16,000 homes, schools, offices and other buildings in the area, primarily for heating.

It also helps Cadent supply nearly 300 industrial users of gas in the area.

Replacing it has required Cadent being able to find a new plot of land, and nearby, to install the new facility below ground. It also needed to ensure that gas continued to flow throughout the project, to ensure warmth for the nearby residents.

Residents and motorists using the A556 will have seen the works taking place, since July, beside the road. The work has required the closure of some of the four-lanes of these roads at times, to ensure sufficient safe space for the workers and motorists, and to allow Cadent to lay 400 metres of new pipes to the new location.

An important milestone was reached this week, as the new facility was commissioned. This means the gas is now flowing through it – and all tests have shown everything is working safely and reliably. The old facility can now be decommissioned and the large work areas restored to good order.

Cadent is working towards having all existing lane closures lifted by 8^th March. It will ensure the grass verges beside the road, which is where the new facility is now housed, will be restored to good order. In time, there will be little evidence to show the facility is there – as it will be below the ground, out of sight.

Paul Phillips, the Cadent engineer in charge of this project, said:

“This has been a very challenging project – one of the most difficult ones, for many reasons, in my 23 years working in gas.

“Engineering on a scale like this is meticulous and does take time. Safety is always our number one priority, as well as ensuring we kept gas flowing throughout, to keep people warm through winter. 

“We’ve been incredibly grateful for the patience of the public, as we have been on-site since July now.

“I’m pleased to say the new governor is up and running, and operating safely.”

Cadent operates four of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks including North West England.

Its North West network stretches from the Lake District to Crewe and is home to 21,000 miles of distribution pipes (most of them underground) and hundreds of above ground installations. If placed end to end, that amount of pipes would stretch from Cheshire to Sydney, Australia, and back again.

Around £800m will be invested in the North West’s gas network over the next five years. This will maintain safe, secure supplies to homes, hospitals, schools, offices and other sites, as well as support the UK journey to net zero carbon emissions.

Backed by Cadent and many partners, the North West region is set to lead the way in a major shift from fossil gases to hydrogen. Producing only heat and water at point of use, hydrogen is key to the UK’s net zero future and is set to be introduced at volume in the North West during the next decade.