Essential work is due to begin on 5 January 2026 to upgrade and relocate equipment which is essential to the safe delivery of gas to thousands of homes in the Burnage area of Manchester.
Cadent, which operates the local gas network, is calling time on one of its ageing ‘governor’ units, which is currently situated underground, near the junction of Parrs Wood Road and Fog Lane.
Governors manage the pressure of gas, ensuring it reaches local homes and other buildings in a safe way. Most units like this are above ground, housed inside kiosk buildings, but the current one is underground.
The existing unit is reaching the end of its safe operating life. Residents living locally will know maintenance work has become more frequent, which leads to traffic disruption each time engineers need to access it.
Cadent has worked closely with Manchester City Council to find a location for a new governor in the immediate area, one which is above ground and away from the local road network.
The new governor will be constructed in Fog Lane Park between 5 January 2026 and the end of March. It will be about 7.43 metres by 2.9 metres – which is around a quarter of the size of a badminton court. The equipment will sit within a new green-coloured metal building.
At the same, Cadent will dismantle and remove an old disused building which is nearby, beside the same footpath.
During this time, to ensure safety of park users, the footpath which runs from Parrs Wood Road, close to the junction with Fog Lane, will be closed. All other footpaths in the park will remain open.
It is not expected that any work will need to be completed outside of normal hours (8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday), although this may happen on occasional days, if essential tasks need completion.
A full site assessment has been completed by an arboriculturist, and Cadent will follow its recommendations throughout, to ensure the preservation of trees and protection of root zones where appropriate.
While a small number of trees must be removed to facilitate the construction of the governor and associated equipment, none of these trees are subject to Tree Preservation Orders and Cadent is working closely with the City Council to implement suitable mitigation measures.
Additionally, as part of the planning application, Cadent will deliver off-site Biodiversity Net Gain.
Gas stays ON throughout the work. The old governor will only be decommissioned after the new one is safely operational. There will be no interruption to the supply of gas to the local area.
If you smell gas, do not assume it is related to these works. It may not be and needs to be checked. Act immediately, day or night, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. All calls are recorded and may be monitored.
Phone: 0800 090 3071
Email: [email protected]
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
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