Why 11km trench will be dug between two North Wales towns and under A55

North Wales Live

3 days ago

A Net Zero proposal would see an 11km trench dug across Flintshire and under the A55. The scheme is part of the wider HyNet project that is set to take CO2 from high energy consuming businesses in North Wales and North West England and transport it to depleted gas fields under Liverpool Bay.
A plan is now in for the Padeswood Spur Pipeline would transport CO2 from the new carbon capture plant at the Heidelberg Materials UK cement works in Padeswood, to the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline at Northop Hall.
The pipeline will be approximately 11km in length, running between Mold and Buckley before crossing under the A55 near Northop Hall (full route and map below).
It is anticipated that if planning permission is granted for the Padeswood Spur Pipeline, that construction works will commence in September 2026 and continue until February2028.
The majority of the pipeline route will be installed by open trench construction methods. The working width will be wide enough to allow construction activities to take place safely and efficiently. A standard construction corridor width of 25m is proposed.
Trenchless crossing methods will be required at certain locations to minimise disruption and environmental impacts. Such locations will include major roads, major watercourses and other environmental features such as ancient woodland. Horizontal Directional Drilling will be used to cross under the A55. Some more minor roads will be closed for temporary periods during the work. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The 16' in diameter pipe built out of steel will be buried underground along its entire length, except for short sections at the beginning and end where it will connect to the Padeswood AGI (Above Ground Installation) and the Northop Hall AGI.
It is designed to have a life span of 25 years. When it ceases to be operational and reaches the end of its useful life, the pipeline will be decommissioned, filled with nitrogen and left in-situ.
HyNet has the potential to remove CO2 emissions from industry by up to 10 million tonnes every year in the 2030s – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.
Separate plans are being made for the actual HyNet pipeline that will cross parts of North West England and Flintshire.
The Padeswood pipeline route:
The Padeswood Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline routes West from the Padeswood AGI, immediately turning North and crossing the A5118. It then turns west running adjacent to the A5118. To the south of Buckley, the Padeswood pipeline routes in a generally north-west direction towards Mynydd Isa.
South of Mynydd Isa and to the East of the Wylfa roundabout the Padeswood Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline crosses the A549 and passes between the settlements of Mynydd Isa and Mold. As it turns North, the route then crosses the A494 Mold Bypass in two locations, before running adjacent to the A494 Mold Bypass on the East side and heading North. The route crosses Bryn-y-Baal Road and Wat's Dyke for a second time.
The pipeline then crosses the A494 for a third time to the east of the New Brighton Roundabout, before continuing in a generally northerly direction through agricultural land towards the A55, crossing Alltami Road along the route. In the north, the pipeline route crosses under an area of Ancient Woodland and the A55, after which the route terminates at Northop Hall AGI, which is located to the north of the A55 between the settlements of Northop Hall and Northop.
Open trench road crossings will necessitate the closure of roads and implementation of diversion routes. Road closures are anticipated to last a maximum of two weeks. The following roads are anticipated to require temporary short-term closures: Padeswood Road South, Rose Lane, Bryn-y-Baal Road and Alltami Road.
An application for the pipeline, an Above Ground Installation (AGI), plus ancillary works and equipment to serve the Padeswood Carbon Capture and Storage Project has been submitted by Liverpool Bay CCS Limited to Flintshire council.
A report states: "Overall, the Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development will provide significant benefits in terms of national and local carbon reduction targets, facilitate transition to a low carbon economy, and contribute significantly to efforts against the climate emergency.
"The ES (Environmental Statement) which accompanies this application demonstrates that, through careful design and use of mitigation measures, the Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development will not result in unacceptable adverse impacts to the environment."