SSE Ferrybridge August 2025
What is planned?
FERRYBRIDGE NEXT GENERATION POWER STATION
Notice of proposed application for a development consent order pursuant to the
Planning Act 2008 for the Ferrybridge Next Generation Power Station
The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure)
Regulations 2009 - Regulation 4 (as amended)
The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 - Regulation 13
1. Notice is hereby given in accordance with section 48 of the Planning Act 2008 (the 'PA 2008’)
that SSE Hydrogen Developments Limited (the ‘Applicant’), whose registered office is No. 1 Forbury
Place, 43 Forbury Road, Reading, England, RG1 3JH, is proposing to submit an application to the
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (the ‘SoS') for a Development Consent Order
(‘DCO’) pursuant to section 37 of the PA 2008 to authorise the construction, operation and
maintenance of an up to two gas turbine (‘GT’) unit generating station with a combined capacity of
up to 1.2 gigawatts (‘GW’) electrical output, together with a natural gas pipeline connection, above
ground installation (‘AGI’) and other associated development (the 'Proposed Development'). The
Proposed Development will be known as Ferrybridge Next Generation Power Station and is also
referred to in this notice as the ‘Proposed Development’.
2. The Proposed Development would be located on land at, and in the vicinity of, the former
Ferrybridge Power Station, Kirkhaw Lane, Knottingley, West Yorkshire – within the administrative
area of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (‘WMDC’) at Easting: 447642, Northing: 424655
(‘the Main Site’), and a land corridor extending eastwards beneath the River Aire and into the
administrative area of North Yorkshire Council (‘NYC’) (‘the Site’) terminating at Pale Lane to the
south of Gateforth. In total the Site extends to approximately 698.5 hectares.
3. The Proposed Development will consist of up to two GT units arranged in either open or
combined cycle configurations, or a combination, depending on market requirements, and
associated infrastructure. The Proposed Development will be designed to run on 100% hydrogen.
However, it is currently anticipated that the hydrogen supply chain may not be available at the start
of operation, in which case the Proposed Development would also need to be able to operate using
100% natural gas or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas. This scenario would be required until
such time as a technically and commercially viable hydrogen supply chain option becomes available
to the Site.
4. Gas will be transported from the Gas Transmission System to the Main Site via a gas pipeline
connection corridor extending into North Yorkshire. The Proposed Pipeline Corridor comprises two
route options for where the pipeline may be located to transport gas from the Gas Transmission
System to the Main Site. Only one corridor would be developed, and the resultant underground
gas pipeline connection is expected to be approximately 9 to 10km in total length.
5. The Proposed Development is anticipated to consist of up to two GT units fuelled by hydrogen
fuel with a combined capacity of up to 1.2 GW electrical output. The main parts are described
below:
• Main Site (at Ferrybridge) - the area where the generating station infrastructure will be located
and supporting facilities;
• Proposed Pipeline Corridors - connecting the Main Site to the existing Feeder 29 on the Gas
Transmission System, for the supply of gas to fuel the power station. Two corridors are currently
under consideration, referred to as the Northern Pipeline Corridor and the Southern Pipeline
Corridor. Only one corridor would be developed and the resultant underground gas pipeline
connection is expected to be approximately 9 to 10km in total length;
• Above Ground Installations (AGIs) including one AGI located at the point of connection with the
National Gas Transmission System at Gateforth and up to two on-site AGIs to receive hydrogen
gas;
• Water Connection Corridors;
• Electrical Connection Corridors - to connect the Proposed Development to the adjacent existing
Ferrybridge 275kV substation; and
• Construction laydown areas.
6. The DCO will also seek, if required, the compulsory acquisition of land and/or rights in, on, under
or over land required for the Proposed Development and the temporary occupation of land for the
Proposed Development.
7. Other powers that the DCO would seek, if required, include the extinguishment and/or overriding
of easements and other rights over or affecting land required for the Proposed Development; the
application and/or disapplication of legislation relevant to the Proposed Development; tree and
hedgerow removal; the temporary stopping up or diversion of public footpaths during construction
works; the permanent and temporary alterations to the highway network for and in the vicinity of
the Project Site, and such ancillary, incidental and consequential works, provisions, permits,
consents, waivers or releases as are necessary and convenient for the successful construction,
operation and maintenance of the Proposed Development.
8. The Proposed Development is an ‘EIA development’ for the purposes of The Infrastructure
Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (the ‘EIA Regulations’). The
Applicant has notified the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the SoS in writing pursuant to
Regulation 8(1)(b) of the EIA Regulations that it intends to provide an Environmental Statement
(‘ES’) in respect of the Proposed Development as part of the proposed application.
9. Information so far compiled about the Proposed Development’s environmental impacts is
contained in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (‘PEIR’) and summarised in a Non-
Technical Summary. This document and other documents relating to the Proposed Development,
including plans and maps showing the nature and location of the Proposed Development (‘the
Consultation Documents’), are available to view or download free of charge from the document
library on the Project website www.ssethermal.com/FBNG from 5 September 2025 (please note,
besides the SoCC, documents will not be available before this period).
10. If you have any questions or queries in relation to the Consultation Documents, please
telephone: 0800 211 8028 (24hr voicemail service) or email: FBNG@sse.com. You can request a
paper copy of the Consultation Documents free of charge (with the exception of the full PEIR which
will be charged at 50p per page to a maximum of £500). Please allow a week for receipt of any
paper copies of documents.
11. The Consultation Documents can also be inspected free of charge at locations set out below:
Inspection Location |
Address |
Opening Times (all closed Sundays and Bank Holidays) |
Contact Details |
---|---|---|---|
Selby Library |
52 Micklegate, Selby, YO8 4EQ |
onday: 9:30am-7:30pm; Tuesday: 9:30am-5:30pm; Wednesday: 9:30am-5:30pm; Thursday: 9:30am-12:30pm; Friday: 9:30am-5:30pm; Saturday: 9:30am-12:30pm |
T: 01609 534521 E: selby.library@ northyorks.gov.uk |
Wakefield Council Offices |
Wakefield Council Offices, Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EB |
Monday: 9am - 5pm; Tuesday: 9am - 5pm; Wednesday: 9am - 5pm; Thursday: 9am - 5pm; Friday: 9am- 4.30pm; Saturday: Closed |
T: 03458 506 506 E: customerservices@ wakefield.gov.uk |
Pontefract Library |
Shoemarket, Pontefract WF8 1BD |
Monday: 9:30am-7pm Tuesday: 9:30am-5pm Wednesday: 9:30am-6pm Thursday: closed Friday: 9:30am-5pm Saturday: 9:30am-4pm |
T: 01977727692 E: pontefractlibrary@ wakefield.gov.uk |
Airedale Library |
The Airedale Centre, The Square, Castleford WF10 3JJ |
Monday: 9:30am-5pm Tuesday: 9:30am-5pm Wednesday: 9:30am-7pm Thursday: closed Friday: 9:30am-5pm Saturday: 9:30am-1pm |
T: 01977 724040 E: airedalelibrary@ wakefield.gov.uk |
Castleford Library |
Carlton Street Castleford WF10 1BB |
Monday: 9am-5pm Tuesday: 9am-5pm Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9am-5pm Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday: 9am-4pm |
T: 01977 722085 E: castlefordlibrary@ wakefield.gov.uk |
The Consultation Documents will be available at the above locations from Friday 5 September 2025
to Monday 6 October 2025 (please note, besides the SoCC, documents will not be available before
this period).
Responding to this notice
12. If you wish to respond to this consultation or make comments or representations in respect of
the Proposed Development, these should be sent to the Applicant in writing. The feedback form
outlines topics where feedback is requested, but consultees are welcome to give feedback on any
aspect of the Project. Comments and representations may be submitted in the following ways:
Feedback Form: at the Project Website (www.ssethermal.com/FBNG) from Friday 5 September
2025 and available at our consultation events, details of which are available online
Email: FBNG@sse.com
Post: FREEPOST FBNG
If you have any problems accessing information please leave us a message on 0800 211 8028.
13. Consultation responses will be reviewed and taken into consideration by the Applicant and may
be published in anonymised form as part of our Consultation Report. We are committed to
protecting your personal data in line with applicable data protection legislation. For more information
about how we handle your personal data, please review our privacy notice at
https://www.ssethermal.com/privacy-notice/.
14. Please note that all comments and representations must be received by the Applicant no later
than 11.59pm on Monday 6 October 2025.
SSE Hydrogen Developments Limited
August 2025