Holford Brinefield, Middlewich – Hydrogen Storage Planning Application

KEUPER GAS STORAGE LIMITED

SECTION 153 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

REGULATION 14 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

(CHANGES TO, AND REVOCATION OF, DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDERS)

REGULATIONS 2011

REGULATION 13 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

(ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2017

NOTICE OF A PROPOSED APPLICATION TO MAKE A MATERIAL CHANGE TO THE KEUPER UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITY ORDER 2017

(SI 2017:433)

Notice is Hereby Given that Keuper Gas Storage Limited (referred to in the application as “KGSL”) of Bankes Lane Office, Bankes Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, United Kingdom, WA7 4EL intends to make an application to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for a Material Change (“the proposed Material Change”) to be made to the Keuper Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2017 (“the DCO”). The DCO project is located between Lach Dennis and Middlewich within the Holford Brinefield in Cheshire.

The proposed Material Change is to the consented DCO which allowed construction and operation of up to 19 newly created and specially designed underground salt cavities – created through solution mining with capacity to store up to 500 million standard cubic metres (mscm) of gas, having an import and export capability of up to 34 mcm per day.

The Material Change is an Environmental Impact Assessment development and therefore an Environmental Statement will accompany the application.

The proposed changes are as follows:

• the storage of hydrogen gas rather than natural gas including consolidation of pipelines;

• changes to the Gas Processing Plant (GPP) area and hydrogen compatible equipment, including a 50m flare instead of a vent;

• moving non-hydrogen equipment to a utility compound adjacent to the GPP;

• the National Transmission System (NTS) connection for natural gas being replaced by the Hydrogen Above Ground Infrastructure (HAGI) for hydrogen connecting to the Hydrogen Pipeline.

Other elements of the project as consented by the DCO which are unaffected by the proposed Material Change are being brought forward and are under construction.

Pre-Application Consultation

A period of pre-application consultation on the proposed Material Change and its Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) will commence on Thursday 9 October 2025 and will close at 23:59 on Thursday 20 November 2025.

How to view the consultation documents

A copy of the consultation documents and the PEIR are available to view and download for inspection, free of charge on the project website on the ‘Consultation’ page at www.kgsp.co.uk

Further information about the proposed Material Change is obtained as follows:

• Project Information Event, De Vere Cranage Estate, Byley Lane, Holmes Chapel, CW4 8EW on Wednesday 15 October 2025 between 3pm and 7pm

• Online Question and Answers session on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 6.30pm (details to register are at www.kgsp.co.uk

• Email: kgsp@fontcomms.com

• Post: Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY (no further information or stamp required)

Freephone: 0800 689 1095 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm).

Hard copies of the consultation documents can be inspected on request from 9 October 2025 until close of business on Thursday 20 November 2025 at:

Storengy UK Stublach Site (Gatehouse), King Street, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7SE.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am–4pm. To arrange a viewing, contact the team on kgsp@fontcomms.com or 0800 689 1095.

A digital copy of the consultation documents can be downloaded free of charge from the project website at www.kgsp.co.uk Printed copies of the main public consultation documents including the PEIR will be available on request at £700+VAT.

Responding to the Consultation

If you wish to respond to this notice or submit a response to the consultation on the proposed Material Change, these should be sent to KGSL as follows:

• Email: kgsp@fontcomms.com

• Online: Complete a questionnaire at www.kgsp.co.uk

• In person: Complete a questionnaire at the public information event at De Vere Cranage Estate on Wednesday 15 October between 3pm and 7pm

• Post: Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY (no further information or stamp required).

Any comments or representations on the proposed Material Change must be received no later than 23:59 on Thursday 20 November 2025.