Planning Act 2008

17 Underground gas storage facilities

(1) Development relating to underground gas storage facilities is within section 14(1)(c) only if the development is within subsection (2), (3) or (5).

(2) Development is within this subsection if—

(a) it is the carrying out of operations for the purpose of creating underground gas storage facilities in England, or

(b) it is starting to use underground gas storage facilities in England,

and the condition in subsection (4) is met in relation to the facilities.

(3) Development is within this subsection if—

(a) it is starting to use underground gas storage facilities in Wales,

(b) the facilities are facilities for the storage of gas underground in natural porous strata,

(c) the proposed developer is a gas transporter, and

(d) the condition in subsection (4) is met in relation to the facilities.

(4) The condition is that—

(a) the working capacity of the facilities is expected to be at least 43 million standard cubic metres, or

(b) the maximum flow rate of the facilities is expected to be at least 4.5 million standard cubic metres per day.

(5) Development is within this subsection if—

(a) it is the carrying out of operations for the purpose of altering underground gas storage facilities in England, and

(b) the effect of the alteration is expected to be—

(i) to increase by at least 43 million standard cubic metres the working capacity of the facilities, or

(ii) to increase by at least 4.5 million standard cubic metres per day the maximum flow rate of the facilities.

(6) “Underground gas storage facilities” means facilities for the storage of gas underground in cavities or in porous strata.

(7) In this section—

• “maximum flow rate”, in relation to underground gas storage facilities, means the maximum rate at which gas is able to flow out of the facilities, on the assumption that—

  (a)

  the facilities are filled to maximum capacity, and

  (b)

  the rate is measured after any processing of gas required on its recovery from storage;

• “working capacity”, in relation to underground gas storage facilities, means the capacity of the facilities for storage of gas underground, ignoring any capacity for storage of cushion gas.

(8) In subsection (7) “cushion gas” means gas which is kept in underground gas storage facilities for the purpose of enabling other gas stored there to be recovered from storage.