Keeping safe during construction
During construction, we will take all precautions to keep everyone safe. There will be barriers around our temporary work areas and appropriate security in place. If we encounter any unforeseen materials, we will remove and safely dispose of them.
As one of the conditions of the lease over landowners’ land, an easement around the proposed spur pipeline will be in place once it is installed. This is to prevent any development on top of it which could pose a safety risk to the proposed spur pipeline. Farm tracks and vehicles, however, will be able to safely cross over the proposed spur pipeline.
Once the work is complete, we will return the land as closely as possible to its original condition. We will replant or replace hedges or fences after construction where possible. The planning applications will be supported by an Outline Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) and Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan (OCTMP).
- OEMP – will set out the overarching management measures that seek to avoid and/or reduce potential environmental impacts during construction, as well as during later operation and decommissioning stages.
- OCTMP – will set out the measures to ensure any movement of plant or equipment is conducted in a safe and efficient manner, while minimising disruption to local communities. It will be continually monitored, reviewed and improved throughout the construction stage to ensure measures are being adhered to and that they remain appropriate throughout the construction stage.
Traffic and access
Temporary access tracks will be established to facilitate the construction works. They will be established from the existing road network and will be set up to minimise disruption and local environmental impacts.
Open trenching is used across minor roads and tracks, while trenchless crossing will be used under Lordship Lane only. Safety for both methods will be managed by short term road closures, diversions or traffic management. Road closures in these areas are not likely to exceed two weeks.
Construction compounds
Temporary construction compounds will be set up to facilitate construction activities, commissioning and landscaping works. The compounds will include:
- Offices and welfare facilities
- Parking
- Storage areas
- Lighting to ensure safe working conditions
- Temporary security fencing and other security arrangements as necessary
- Signage and access restrictions
- Drainage solutions
Construction timeline and working hours
We anticipate that the construction of the Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Development will commence in 2027 and take approximately 23 months. The indicative construction programme is:
| Activity | Start | Finish |
| Mobilisation and enabling works | Winter 2027 | Spring 2027 |
| Above ground pipeline installation – onshore | Spring 2027 | Autumn 2027 |
| Trenchless crossings | Spring 2027 | Summer 2028 |
| Runcorn AGI and Ince AGI construction | Spring 2027 | Autumn 2027 |
| Above ground pipeline installation – barge | Spring 2028 | Autumn 2028 |
| Underground pipeline installation | Spring 2028 | Autumn 2028 |
| Pre-commissioning* | Autumn 2028 | Winter 2028 |
*Pre-commissioning is the process of testing, checking and preparing the pipeline before the operation of the pipeline starts.
Throughout construction core working hours are likely to be from 8am to 6pm on weekdays (excluding bank holidays) and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Some locations where trenchless crossings are being carried out will require working 24 hours a day, but this will be for short periods.
The construction process
The method of installing the buried spur pipelines will mostly be by the open-cut trench technique, with some areas requiring trenchless crossings.
The section of proposed spur pipeline to the east of the River Weaver will be installed above ground.
The open-cut trench technique will involve digging soil to form a trench, lowering the pipe into the trench, and backfilling it with the excavated soil. The depth of the trench will vary depending on technical factors such as ground conditions and topography.
Trenchless techniques are used when installing pipelines under railway lines, major roads and riverbeds. Trenchless techniques bury the pipeline at a greater depth than the open-cut technique and will depend on the nature of the feature being crossed. In these cases, we will use methods such as:
