Upgrade of miles of gas pipes may hit homes
THE North West’s gas network operator Cadent has announced it is to replace 15,452 metres of ageing metal pipe in Halton as part of a £70m programme of investment for 2022-23.
Cadent published its plan for the region’s “oldest gas mains” on April 4, some of which were installed more than 100 years ago.
Halton’s programme equates to about 9.6 miles.
A spokesman for the company said the project aims to ensure the region’s gas network “continues at pace to prepare for a greener future”.
Cadent said it replaces around 1.5% its 34,000km North West underground pipe distribution system every year, mostly ageing metallic mains nearing the end of their safe operating lives and are to be replaced by plastic.
The works are part of a larger programme taking place over 30 years and due to finish in 2032.
Upgrading to plastic ensures a longterm safe network and means keeping everything on track to replace fossil gas with hydrogen, Cadent said, adding the switch is essential for meeting energy demands in ways that “protect the planet more”.
The mains replacement programme confirmed for the year April 2022 to March 2023 includes more than 450,000 metres of gas mains across the North West region.
This is the same length as more than 4,300 football pitches, or the same height at more than 2,800 Blackpool Towers.
It is almost double the distance, as the crow flies, from the middle of Manchester to central London.
For this year alone, that is £70m investment in the North West gas mains network, with more than 600 engineers employed to deliver the work.
The network operator said it is working with highways authorities - usually the local council - to decide on the best and least disruptive times to carry out the “essential upgrades”.
Once these start dates have been confirmed, letters are sent to properties impacted or in the vicinity of the work areas, in the weeks that lead up to work starting.
Part of the programme also involves replacing the individual “service” pipes of 50,000 properties.
This involves no extra cost for the customer.
Cadent will make all the arrangements and give advance notice of when this will happen.
The firm said the gas remains on during the work, but in some cases properties that take a direct feed from the pipe being replaced will lose supply for up to 12 hours, as their building is connected in to the new main.
Advance notice is given and customer teams are available to answer questions.
Craig Horrocks, who heads Cadent’s gas mains upgrade work in the North West, said: “More than 80% of homes in the North West rely on gas for central heating and it’s our job to make sure they get it, safely and reliably, every minute of every day of the year.
“As our older stock reaches the end of its safe working life, we must replace it.
“We’re also excited by the arrival soon of hydrogen to our networks, which is going to be essential to the North West achieving its targets to reduce carbon emissions.
“In most cases we’re able to insert the new pipe into the old one, a technique that reduces the time of each project and means we don’t have to dig as much.
“It also means an end to what often becomes increasingly-frequent visits – with associated disruption – to repair faults on the older metallic mains, as they start to show signs of age.
“We know it’s not ideal, but my team is determined to move as quickly as they safely ca can and get the work done with as little disruption as possible.”
Cadent’s operating profit in 2020-21 was £901m.
Its annual financial report sa said that sum was from £2,075m in revenue, and after £1.025bn of capital investm ment.