The company, which is the UK's largest utility, already supplies around 26,000 homes and businesses in the Rossendale Valley but more and more developments are clamouring for connection to the gas supply network.
To safeguard supplies and meet the new demand, National Grid is to build a new pipeline to bring more gas into the heart of the valley.
The company has been given permission to build new gas pressure control equipment at two sites in Haslingden - one off Grane Road and one on the roundabout near Tesco on Manchester Road.
A new gas pipeline will connect these two sites, allowing National Grid to increase the amount of gas flowing into the network of medium and low pressure gas pipes for delivery to local homes and businesses.
It will also enable National Grid to decommission one of the gas holders at Clough Fold and to bring forward work to replace old iron gas mains in the area with modern plastic pipes.
Work on the construction of the 2.2km pipeline will start in July and will take until January next year to complete. Work on the pressure control equipment is scheduled to start this winter.
For most of its length, the new pipeline will be laid in the grass verge which runs alongside the southbound carriageway of the A56 between Manchester Road and Grane Road. During the work, both lanes will be reduced in width but lane closures will not be necessary. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation while the pipe is being laid along Grane Road. The work has been planned with the local authority and the Highways Agency.
To reduce disruption to road users, over half of the pipeline will be laid using a technique called directional drilling. This reduces the need for open excavation.
David Greenhalgh, Design Engineer said: "This is a significant project for Rossendale. Investment in the area has increased over recent years, leading to us being asked to supply gas to greater numbers of homes, factories and other business premises.
This project will allow us to continue to deliver energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly.
Notes to editors - archive
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world and was named Responsible Business of the Year 2014 by Business in the Community. This accolade acknowledges all of our efforts in getting involve with the things that really matter to us and to society. We own and manage the grids that connect people to the energy they need, from whatever the source. In Britain and the north-eastern states of the US we run systems that deliver gas and electricity to millions of people, businesses and communities.
In Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. In the North Eastern US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles.
National Grid in the UK:
- We own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, operating it across Great Britain
- We own and operate the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain
- Our gas distribution business delivers gas to 10.9 million homes and businesses
- We also own a number of related businesses including LNG importation, land remediation and metering
- National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service free phone line on behalf of the industry - 0800 111 999 (all calls are recorded and may be monitored).
- Our portfolio of other businesses is mainly concerned with infrastructure provision and related services where we can exploit our core skills and assets to create value. These businesses operate in areas such as Metering, Grain LNG Import, Interconnectors and Property. National Grid Carbon Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid. It undertakes Carbon Capture Storage related activities on behalf of National Grid.
Find out more about the energy challenge and how National Grid is helping find solutions to some of the challenges we face at www.nationalgridconnecting.com
National Grid undertakes no obligation to update any of the information contained in this release, which speaks only as at the date of this release, unless required by law or regulation.