Major work started on 4th April 2022 to install a new section of gas pipeline under A57 Mottram Moor, Tameside. This project webpage will always have our latest update.
Final update - published 6th July 2022
Our work to install a large section of new gas pipe – the equivalent length of more than 14 football pitches – is now COMPLETE, well ahead of schedule.
We have now fully connected and installed the new 1.4km of pipe and completed all tests. This pipe is fully integrated onto our existing network. This now secures the supply to the immediate area for years to come.
The team have worked extremely hard to complete this project ahead of schedule by approximately 6 weeks.
Cadent would like to thank Tameside Council and National Highways, who have supported us throughout.
There is also a huge thank you to everyone who, one way or another, may have been impacted. We know you've endured delays whilst travelling through our works. The area is now restored back to normal and handed back to public use, even quicker than we anticipated.
Did you know? This work has future-proofed the gas network, helping get it ready for the arrival soon of hydrogen. We will transition from methane to hydrogen in the coming years, which is essential to ensuring we deliver a net zero UK energy system. More information is below.
Thank you for your support - and patience!
Craig Horrocks, Head of Cadent's North West Investment Planning Office, said:
“This is undoubtedly one of the most challenging projects in our investment programme this year.
“There’s two reasons for saying that – installing 1,400 metres of large new pipe on the local gas network is in itself complex engineering, but we’ve also had to factor in the fact this is one of the busiest roads in the region.
“The whole team, including partners in other agencies, have done a fantastic job, and we’re finishing ahead of schedule.
“We’ve tried hard to come up with the best possible solutions to completing this job safely and keep traffic flowing around and alongside us.
“Thanks to everyone – the local community and motorists passing through – for your support and patience; we appreciate at times it’s been disruptive.
“I’m pleased to say the new pipe is now fully tested and commissioned, distributing gas to local homes in the area and to a local power generation site – which uses gas to drive the turbines to generate electricity. It’s also future-proofed the network – helping get it ready for the introduction soon of hydrogen, which is going to lead to big carbon reductions in how we heat our homes in the future.”
More information on the project
The new main will improve the feed to around 2,500 homes in the Glossop and Hadfield areas, with growth having put a strain on existing gas infrastructure.
It is also needed to meet the requirements from a power generation site, which uses gas to create electricity for the local area.
Teams working for Cadent, which manages the local gas network, installed around 1,400 metres of new pipe. That's the equivalent in length to 14 football pitches.
The work area runs up Mottram Moor, to Back Moor and then into Stalybridge Road, Mottram.
This is major engineering, in a busy area, and was due to last into August, but completed sooner.
There was no interruption to gas supply during these works.
Why this work is so important
At the start of the project, Craig Horrocks explained: “Growth in this area has put a significant strain on the gas network. We are now concerned about meeting demand and have a legal duty to resolve that.
“A local power generation site also urgently needs more gas to create electricity for the same area.
“Our team has tried, for several years, to negotiate with multiple private landowners to lay this new pipe through fields. We haven’t been able to reach agreements and the situation is now such that we need to act, by installing it under roads.
“Installing the new pipe also helps future-proof this part of the network, helping to ensure it’s ready to distribute hydrogen when that starts to arrive in the North West soon. Hydrogen is key to securing a net zero energy future.
“This is a busy road and it’s impossible not to have any impact on traffic. We’ve been liaising over many months now with agencies such as National Highways, Transport for Greater Manchester and Tameside Council, to minimise disruption.”
Contacting Cadent about this project
Customers with questions about this work can contact the team by:
Phone: 0800 090 3071
Email:
CustomerCareNW@cadentgas.com
Online:
https://cadentgas.com/contact-us/contact-form-nw
Our customer team has been sending out information to properties in the immediate area around the works. Social media posts, as well as visits to schools and local businesses, are also happening.
If you smell gas
If you smell gas during this work, nearby or anywhere, always ring the national gas emergency service immediately, day or night, on 0800 111 999*. Do not delay, or assume it’s related to this work. It may not be and must be checked.
Cadent in the North West
Cadent operates four of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks – North West England, West Midlands, Eastern England and North London.
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 Tameside 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 2020s (see
www.hynet.co.uk).