We manage the local underground gas network in the North West and we are working with the council to carry out essential improvement works to the gas pipes in Wirral.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, we’ve invested over £8m into our Wirral mains replacement project to upgrade the aging pipeline so that it can continue to be used safely – some of the pipes within the area are over 100 years old.
The pipes that we will be working on distribute gas to homes, hospitals, schools, offices and industry and help to provide the services that we need to live and work.
More than 87% of Wirral’s homes rely on gas central heating to provide warmth and hot water and these works are critical to ensure that this continues to happen safely.
Work to upgrade gas pipes between February 2026 and March 2026 will mainly be focused in the following areas of Wirral (a total of 15 separate projects):
We are working with the council to deliver this programme and help minimise disruption. Where possible, all works within this programme are being scheduled to avoid clashes with other planned projects and highway schemes, such as road surfacing works.
View a map of the most up-to-date roadworks
Cadent have been working through a 30-year programme of works to upgrade gas pipes and modernise the gas network in the UK. This began in 2002 and is now entering its final phases – where the most significant amount of work will need to be completed.
In Wirral, 40,668 metres of gas pipe will need to be upgraded between April 2025 and March 2026. About the same amount will be upgraded each financial year until the programme of works is complete.
Alongside the upgrade works, routine maintenance, and repair jobs, as well as the necessary fast response work to emergencies and reports of smells of gas will also continue to take place.
If you ever smell gas, call 0800 111 999 immediately, day or night (all calls are recorded and may be monitored). Do not delay, or assume it is related to nearby works. It may not be and needs to be checked.
If the works are part of this major upgrade programme and you are going to be one of the properties directly impacted, Cadent will send you information by letter several weeks before the project begins.
In some cases, Cadent may need to switch off your gas supply but if this is needed, you will get advance notice and Cadent will ensure that the gas is turned back on the same day. A qualified engineer will turn your supply off and back on again, and check everything is working safely.
If you need to contact Cadent about gas main upgrade work in your area:
We partner with charities and community centres in Wirral to help residents who are impacted by fuel poverty, in need of energy efficiency and income maximisation support, and provide important gas safety information.
Find your local Centre for Warmth
Request a Groundwork Green Doctor consultation for free in-home energy efficiency advice
Would you benefit from additional support during a utility outage?
The Priority Services Register helps utility companies look after customers who have extra communication, access or safety needs - for example, during a loss of gas incident, a water supply issue, or a power cut. It is a completely free service. Find out more and register at cadentgas.com/psr
The replacement of pipes will not only make essential upgrades so that pipes can continue to be used safely but will mean big environmental gains for the region, as it reduces methane emissions and enables a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future – the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable.
The programme of works in Wirral is part of the £75million programme by Cadent to upgrade 385,000 metres of gas mains in the North West in the year from April 2025 to March 2026. This is the same straight-line distance as Liverpool to Dover!
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.
Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*
Cadent Gas Ltd is owned by a consortium of global investors.
*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.
7890 963 616
