Notice is hereby given that Cadent Gas Limited (Cadent) (the “Applicant”) of Pilot Way, Ansty CV7 9JU intends to make an application to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero under Section 37 (applications for orders granting development consent) of the Planning Act 2008 for development consent (the “Application”). In support of this application the Applicant is proposing to undertake Targeted Consultation.

The Project

The Applicant is the UK’s largest regional gas distributor. It is currently developing a number of projects to support the decarbonisation of industry and power generation in our regions through the use of hydrogen. The Project is the first of these located in the North West industrial heartland of the UK and will support retaining industry and jobs in the region as well as the UK reaching its Net Zero ambitions.

The Applicant intends to make an application to the Secretary of State for a DCO for the Project.

The Project includes the construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of approximately 100km of new pipeline to distribute hydrogen to industry in the North West. A number of Hydrogen Above Ground Installations (HAGIs), including Block Valve Installations (BVIs) are required to control the flow and pressure of hydrogen at key points along the proposed pipeline.

The Project connects the Hydrogen Production Plant (HPP) at the Stanlow site, as the source of low carbon hydrogen, for onward distribution to the network. The pipeline transports the low carbon hydrogen to the Central Hub at the centre of the network, which then serves as the distribution point to the North, East and South pipeline Corridors, which would extend to St. Helens, Partington and Northwich respectively. Branching off from each main pipeline corridor would be smaller pipelines called spurs which connect regional industry to the main pipeline. On the eastern pipeline corridor, alongside industrial connections, infrastructure has also been included which in the future would support the potential for blending low levels of hydrogen into the existing natural gas network, pending a government policy decision. The Project would also link to underground hydrogen storage facilities in Cheshire used to balance supply and demand through the network.

The Project’s main components are:

• The construction, operation and maintenance of approximately 100 kilometres of new pipeline to distribute hydrogen;

• Smaller pipelines (spurs) branching off from the main pipeline route to provide connections to specific industrial users in the region, identified as part of the Project;

• Nine Hydrogen Above Ground Installations (HAGIs) and two Block Valve Installations (BVIs) required to control the flow and pressure of hydrogen at key points along the proposed pipeline;

• Measures for avoiding, minimising and/or mitigating adverse environmental effects likely to arise in connection with the construction and operation of the Project;

• Other related works, for example, temporary access roads, highway works, temporary works compounds, work sites and ancillary works; and

• Compulsory acquisition of land, including interests in land, rights over land and imposition of restrictions, powers to override, suspend or extinguish rights over land and powers for the temporary use of land.

The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development as defined in the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. Consequently, the Applicant will submit an Environmental Statement as part of the Application. This assesses the likely significant effects arising from the Project on the environment. A Draft Environmental Statement was published as part of the Applicant’s Stage Three statutory consultation and an addendum to this Draft Environmental Statement forms part of the consultation material.

The Applicant undertook a Stage Three statutory consultation from 14th October to 19th November 2024 in relation to the proposals. Following an analysis of the results of that statutory consultation, the Applicant has made several additional amendments to the Project to address feedback raised.

Targeted Consultation in relation to several amendments to the proposals will take place from 0:00 on Wednesday 29th January to 23:59 on Tuesday 25th February 2025.

Statement of Community Consultation

The Applicant has a duty to consult the local community about the Project under Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008. Before making our application, Section 47(1) requires us to prepare a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), setting out how we will consult with people living in the vicinity to the land to which the proposals relate. Section 47(7) requires us to carry out the consultation in accordance with this statement and so full details of the consultation will be provided in the SoCC.

Section 47(6) requires an applicant for development consent to make the SoCC available for inspection by the public in a way that is reasonably convenient for people living in the vicinity of the land to which the project relates. The SoCC was published as part of the Stage Three statutory consultation, which was held from 14th October to 19th November 2024 and is available on our project website

(www.hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk). This targeted consultation is being carried out in accordance with the principles of the SoCC.

If you are unable to access the website, please contact the community relations team on 0800 860 6261 or via email to:

info@hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk and a hard copy of the SoCC can be provided free of charge.

Targeted consultation

The Applicant is proposing several amendments to the project following feedback received at Stage Three statutory consultation. Consultation on these amendments will take place from 0:00 on Wednesday 29th January to 23:59 on Tuesday 25th February 2025. This targeted consultation is being carried out under the principles of the SoCC as set out above.

Information on the amendments, including an addendum to the Draft Environmental Statement, as well as Section 42 letter, Section 46 notice, and documents, maps and plans showing the nature and location of the amendments will be available free of charge from 0:00 on Wednesday 29th January to 23:59 on Tuesday 25th February 2025 on the Applicant’s website:

www.hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk/knowledge-hub.

Copies of the consultation information may be obtained by calling our community relations team on 0800 860 6261 or by emailing

info@hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk following the launch of consultation and may be requested as an electronic or paper copy.

A reasonable copying charge will apply for paper copies of the Draft Environmental Statement and addendum (up to a maximum of £150 for the full suite of documents).

The Applicant can be contacted for enquiries in relation to any of the above on 0800 860 6261 or by email to:

info@hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk.

There are several ways to submit responses to the consultation:

By email

info@hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk

In writing

FREEPOST HYNET NWHP (Please be advised it is not possible to send registered post to a freepost address)

To help us better understand your feedback, it would be helpful if you could include your name and address. Please also confirm which amendment you are responding to, and the nature of your interest in the land affected by the scheme. Further instructions are included alongside each amendment, which are available to view on

www.hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk/knowledge-hub.

Any responses to, or other representations in respect of, the Project should be received by 23:59 on 25th February 2025. Responses received after this time without prior agreement may not be considered.

Cadent Gas Limited will consider and have regard to all responses when developing the application for a DCO once consultation has closed. Responses will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Secretary of State when deciding whether the Application can be accepted for examination. In providing any comment, it should be known the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report. Any details you provide to us will be subject to our privacy policy notice on the Project website at

www.hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk/privacy.

If you would like further information about this notice, the consultation or the Project, please contact the Project team by using one of the contact methods provided above.

Cadent Gas Limited