National Grid is planning to build a new 3.75km gas pipeline to link the underground gas storage facility at Hole House Farm near Middlewich in Cheshire into the national gas transmission system. 

A route is currently under consideration which will take the pipeline south of the village of Warmingham, mainly through private agricultural land. In planning this route, we have made every effort to avoid centres of population, significant environmental features and areas which would present difficulties during construction such as rivers, roads and areas used for mineral extraction.

We also plan to install equipment on a small area of land off Crabmill Lane, in Warmingham which will connect the new gas pipe into the national network of high pressure pipes.

[Download a higher resolution PDF version of the Hole House Farm proposed pipeline route.]

Building a gas transmission pipeline is a large engineering project.

The new pipeline will be designed and built to the same high standards of safety and security as the other 7,383km of high pressure gas transmission pipelines already in operation across the UK.

It will be buried underground throughout its length, allowing us to reinstate the land to its original condition when work is complete.

Why did you choose this route?

A number of potential corridors were pinpointed and investigated to enable us to obtain relevant archaeological, ecological and environmental information. Early consultations were also undertaken with key statutory bodies such as the East Cheshire Council, Countryside Commission, English Nature and the Environment Agency. Following these consultations, the preferred pipeline route corridor has emerged.

Will wildlife and plant life in the area be affected?

When planning the pipeline route, we avoid the most sensitive areas where possible and ensure that, when work is necessary within these areas, every available precaution is taken to prevent harm. Environmental specialists are employed to provide advice in planning the route, and they form an integral part of the construction team from the outset to ensure that all the commitments made to protect the environment are fully complied with.

Who is building the pipeline?

This project is still in the Design phase with a construction contractor due to be appointed in autumn 2010 with completion and commissioning to gas programmed for October 2011. 

There is a programme of Site Investigation currently ongoing to assist in the design of the pipeline route. We are also liaising with affected owner/occupiers as well as statutory authorities such as East Cheshire Council, Natural England and The Environment Agency.

What are your working hours?

During construction our working hours will normally be 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 7am to 4.30pm on Saturdays. Sunday working may be necessary.

How noisy will the work be?

The nature of pipeline construction work means that inevitably some noise will be created. However, we are fully aware of the importance of avoiding unnecessary noise from sites and will be doing everything we can to keep disturbance to a minimum. Any works required outside normal hours will be kept to a minimum, discussed in advance with the relevant local authority Environmental Health Officers, and local residents will be informed.