The Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2015

A nationally significant infrastructure project as defined in sections 14 and 17 of the 2008 Act comprising—

• Work No. 1A — an underground gas storage facility to store gas in, extract gas from and inject gas into, with—

  1. a

     a total storage capacity of up to 900 million standard cubic metres; and

  2. b

     a working capacity of up to 600 million standard cubic metres, but not less than 130 million standard cubic metres,

  in each case specified at the standard temperature and pressure, comprising up to 19 operational caverns formed by solution mining of the Preesall halite deposit; all to be constructed to any extent downwards below 220 metres below ground surface and to be confined within the Preesall halite deposit; and

associated development within the meaning of section 115(2) of the 2008 Act comprising—

• Work No. 1B — vertical wells, S-shaped wells, slant wells and extended reach slant wells and internal operational pipeline strings connecting the multiple wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) to the gas storage caverns (Work No. 1A);

• Work No. 2A — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2B — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2C — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2D — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2E — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2F — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 2G — a wellhead compound area containing multiple wellheads, valve boxes, emergency hydraulic packs, manifold valve boxes, instrument enclosures, closed-circuit television facilities, intruder detectors, compound lighting, grassed mounds, stock proof fencing, security fencing and hard standings, below ground gas manifold pipelines, brine feeds and returns and power and communication cables situated beneath the wellhead compound and gated access roads from the wellheads to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and to the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 3 — a gas compressor compound containing gas compressor station, electrical utilities building and equipment including pig launchers and receivers, slug catchers, glycol contactors and regeneration system, compressors, compressor knock out separators, compressor aftercoolers, gas filters, and heaters and all storage tanks, sub stations, switch yards and valve pits, a vent stack within the fire water storage pond, drainage and interception facilities, internal and external site access roads linking to the public highway and individual wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G), diversion of overhead electricity cables, stock proof fencing, security fencing, gates, closed-circuit television, intruder detector system and external and internal lighting; and extensions of those parts of the 132kV electrical circuits, 11kV power cables and electrical control cables and interconnector gas main comprised in Work Nos. 17A, 18, 19 and 20A which link to elements within this Work No;

• Work No. 4 — a booster pump station, de-brine facility and control centre compound including hardstandings for nitrogen tanks, hydrocyclones, a de-brine pond, other pumping equipment and a transformer compound. Internal vehicular access routes, turning areas, pedestrian areas, walls, fencing, closed-circuit television, intruder detector security systems and external lighting, a screen wall and grassed mounds situated on the north and west sides and underground and above ground pipework, electrical cables and other utilities; and extensions of those parts of the wash water pipelines, brine discharge pipelines, power and control cables comprised in Work Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19 which link to elements within this Work No;

• Work No. 5 — a security and support facility at Higher Lickow farm including staff facilities, a maintenance workshop, an administration, health and safety and training facility and a security gatehouse, security fencing, power circuits, telecommunications cables and other facilities, closed-circuit television, intruder sensing security systems and external lighting; and those extensions of the roads comprised in Work Nos. 6 and 7 which link with elements of this Work No;

• Work No. 6 — an internal/external site road from the A588 up to and including the security and support facility at Higher Lickow farm (Work No. 5) including drainage and interceptors, lighting, piped culverts/bridge, realigned watercourses, grass mounding and landscape screening;

• Work No. 7 — an internal site access road from the security and support facility at Higher Lickow farm (Work No. 5) to the gas compressor compound area (Work No. 3) including drainage and interceptors, lighting, piped culverts, realigned watercourses, grass mounding and landscaping;

• Work No. 8 — internal site access roads from the wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) to the booster pump station (Work No. 4) and the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3);

• Work No. 9 — a gas manifold, distribution pipelines, power, control and telecommunications cables including underground pressure pipelines, pipelines and cables linking the wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) to the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3); all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the pipelines, power, control and telecommunications cables rise to interface with the wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) and the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3);

• Work No. 10 — a wash water pipeline including underground pressure pipelines linking each wellhead compound (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) to the booster pump station and de-brine facility (Work No. 4); all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the wash water pipeline rises to interface with the wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) and the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 11 — a brine outlet pipeline including underground pressure pipelines linking each wellhead compound (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) to the booster pump station and de-brine facility (Work No. 4); all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the brine outlet pipeline rises to interface with the wellhead compounds (Work Nos. 2A to 2G) and the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 12 — a wash water pipeline from the seawater pump station (Work No. 15) to the booster pump station (Work No. 4) including an underground, under river pressure pipeline crossing constructed in trench, in pre-placed sleeves or placed by trenchless methods where not below the bed of the river Wyre and placed by trenchless methods where below the bed of the river Wyre; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or not less than 8 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or not more than 35 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) save where the wash water pipeline rises to interface with the seawater pump station (Work No. 15) and the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 13 — a brine discharge pipeline between the booster pump station, (Work No. 4) and the seawater pump station (Work No. 15) including an underground, under river pressure pipeline crossing constructed in trench, in pre-placed sleeves or placed by trenchless methods where not below the bed of the river Wyre and placed by trenchless methods where below the bed of the river Wyre; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or not less than 8 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or not more than 35 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) save where the brine discharge pipeline rises to interface with the booster pump station (Work No. 4) and the seawater pump station (Work No. 15);

• Work No. 14 — twin 11kV power and control cables from the seawater pumping station (Work No. 15) to the booster pump station and debrine facility (Work No. 4), sleeves, service pipes, power and control cables laid in trench, in pre placed sleeves or placed by trenchless methods where not below the bed of the river Wyre and placed by trenchless methods where below the bed of the river Wyre; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or not less than 8 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or not more than 35 metres below the bed of the river Wyre where applicable) save where the cables and sleeves rise to interface with the booster pump station (Work No. 4) and the seawater pump station (Work No. 15);

• Work No. 15 — a seawater pump station containing a wet well abstraction facility and multiple pumps connected to the fish dock by an existing culvert, a connection to the brine discharge pipeline and flow meters and monitoring systems for the brine discharge pipeline, the incorporation of filters into the existing water intake structure, extensions of those parts of the wash water pipelines, brine discharge pipelines, power and control cables comprised in Work Nos. 12, 13, 16A and 14 which link to elements of this Work No., a bunded transformer compound, a mobile gantry crane and roller shutter doors, internal vehicular access routes, parking areas, pedestrian areas and landscaping, gated security fencing, closed-circuit television and intruder detection systems, lighting and drainage, temporary and permanent access from Amounderness Way via Dock Avenue and Herring Arm Road;

• Work No. 16A — a brine discharge pipeline from seawater pump station (Work No. 15) to United Utilities treatment plant, approximate chainage 3445m to 2690m, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench or within a pre-existing sleeve beneath a newly constructed housing area road; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary works compound and fencing adjacent to Amounderness Way and temporary access from Herring Arm, Road, Amounderness Way and Jameson Road;

• Work No. 16B — a brine discharge pipeline from United Utilities treatment plant to Jameson Road approximate chainage 2690m to chainage 1960m, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary access from Jameson Road to a temporary works compound and temporary fencing;

• Work No. 16C — a brine discharge pipeline from Jameson Road, approximate chainage 1960m, to the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 1820m, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where it crosses the former rail line adjacent to Jameson Road on a pipe bridge at ground surface (shown on drawing no. MMD-277663-C-DR-00-XX-0003); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion, reception compound and fencing adjacent to Jameson Road and a fenced temporary access from Jameson Road;

• Work No. 16D — a brine discharge pipeline from the Jameson Road temporary works compound, approximate chainage 1820m, to the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 1580m, including a pressure pipeline and sleeve laid by trenchless methods beneath Fleetwood Road and adjacent land; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound and fencing, a temporary access road and fencing from the temporary works compound at approximate chainage 1580m to Fleetwood Road and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations within Fleetwood Road required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 16E — a brine discharge pipeline from the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 1580m, to pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 1410m, including a pressure pipeline and sleeve laid by trenchless methods beneath Amounderness Way and adjacent land; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound and fencing, a temporary access road and fencing from the temporary works compound at approximate chainage 1410m to Rossall Lane and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations within Amounderness Way required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 16F — a brine discharge pipeline from the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 1410m, to the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, at approximate chainage 890m, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound and fencing adjacent to the Blackpool Tramway and temporary access and fencing to South Strand;

• Work No. 16G — a brine discharge pipeline from the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 890m, to the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 770m, including a pressure pipeline and sleeve laid by trenchless methods beneath the Blackpool Tramway and adjacent land; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound and fencing, a temporary access road and fencing from the temporary works compound at approximate chainage 770m to South Strand/Broadway and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations within the Blackpool Tramway required by Blackpool Borough Council;

• Work No. 16H — a brine discharge pipeline from the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 770m, to the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 610m, including a pressure pipeline and sleeve laid by trenchless methods beneath the junction of Broadway, South Strand, the Strand and adjacent land; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound and fencing, access from South Strand and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations within Broadway or South Strand required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 16I — a brine discharge pipeline from the temporary works compound/pipe insertion and reception compound, approximate chainage 610m, to the temporary works compound at Rossall Promenade, approximate chainage 0.00m, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and a temporary works compound and fencing on and adjacent to Rossall Promenade, temporary access and fencing to Fairway, temporary modifications or closures to existing public rights of way, car parking areas and access to the promenade;

• Work No. 16J — a brine discharge pipeline within and adjacent to Rossall Promenade including a pressure pipeline laid in trench beneath the promenade; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface and not more than 10 metres below ground surface, or affixed to the existing modified sea wall to descend to and beneath the foreshore to a depth of not less than 1 metre below the foreshore and not more than ten metres beneath the foreshore; and pipe protection where appropriate, all permanent or temporary, full or partial, removal of the existing promenade surfacing, access ramps and retaining walls from the landward and seaward sides of the promenade, modifications to and breaking through the sea wall to allow the passage of the pipeline beneath the promenade to the foreshore, modifications to the promenade rear flood wall including the provision of flood gates and the construction of an observation platform/shelter, including new steps, retaining walls and revetments to access the foreshore;

• Work No. 16K — a brine discharge pipeline from the Rossall Promenade (sea wall) to approximately the mean low water mark, including a pressure pipeline laid in trench from and beneath the foreshore; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below the surface of the foreshore and not more than 10 metres below the surface of the foreshore;

• Work No. 16L — a brine discharge pipeline from approximately mean low water mark to the pipeline’s termination at the single two-port diffuser, including a pressure pipeline laid in a backfilled trench beneath the sea bed from a seagoing vessel; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below the sea bed and not more than 10 metres below the sea bed; and a single two-port diffuser fitted to distribute flows into the Irish Sea and all warning measures required to delineate the works area;

• Work No. 17A — 132kV cables from the electric substation at the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) to the south river crossing and splice pits laid in trench beneath Agglebys Road, Corcas Lane, the public highway linking High Gate Lane with Burrows Lane named as being part of High Gate Lane and Burrows Lane; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and splice pits situated in the vicinity of the river exit point, adjacent to Burrows Lane, Highgate Lane and Agglebys Road;

• Work No. 17B — twin sleeves and 132kV electricity cables from the south river temporary exit compound to the south river temporary entry compound; all to be constructed by trenchless methods not less than 8 metres below the bed of the river Wyre and not more than 35 metres below the bed of the river Wyre save where the electricity cables rise to enter the drive and reception pits at the limits of Work No. 17B; and temporary works sites at the under river entry and exit points containing drive and reception pits, temporary fencing and temporary access track from Burrows Lane;

• Work No. 17C — twin sleeves and 132kV electricity cables from the south river temporary entry compound to the 132kV grid substation operated by Electricity North West and located within the National Grid 400kV substation and switchyard at Stanah; all to be constructed by trenchless methods not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the electricity cables rise to enter the drive and reception pits situated at the limits of Work No. 17C; and sleeves and cables to be laid beneath the existing Flints caravan park and Hillilaid Pool, temporary works sites at the river exit points and within the Stanah Substation Switchyard, temporary access from River Road to the temporary compound, temporary fencing and connection to National Grid electricity infrastructure at the Stanah substation;

• Work No. 18 — 11kV electrical circuits from the electrical substation/switchyard at the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) to the booster pump station (Work No. 4), including twin 11kV electric cables laid in trench crossing Footpaths 45, 61 and 42 and an unnamed watercourse designated as main river; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the circuits rise to interface with the electrical substation/switchyard at the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 19 — electrical control cables extending from the proposed electrical substation /switchyard at the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) to the booster pump station (Work No. 4), including electrical control cables laid in trench and sleeves, crossing Footpaths 45, 61 and 42 and an unnamed watercourse designated as main river; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the circuits rise to interface with the electrical substation/switchyard at the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) and the booster pump station (Work No. 4);

• Work No. 20A — an interconnector gas pipeline from the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3) to the A588 Hall Gate Lane including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Monks Lane, Back Lane, Hall Gate Lane and watercourses/drains; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the pipeline rises to interface with the gas compressor compound (Work No. 3); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20B — an interconnector gas pipeline from the A588/Hall Gate Lane to Lancaster Road C308 including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Footpath 31, Bridleway 29, White Lane, Shaws Lane, Footpath 34, Longwood Lane (New Lane), Lancaster Road C308 and watercourses/drains; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20C — an interconnector gas pipeline from Lancaster Road C308 to Bradshaw Lane C414 including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Bradshaw Road C414, Ridgy Pool and other watercourses/drains; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20D — an interconnector gas pipeline from Bradshaw Lane C414 to Bone Hill Lane including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Footpath 39 and Bone Hill Lane; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20E — an interconnector gas pipeline from Bone Hill Lane to Black Lane C436 including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Black Lane; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20F — an interconnector gas pipeline from Black Lane C436 connecting to metering station including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods, crossings of other ordinary watercourses/drains, temporary fencing, stock proof fencing; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the pipeline rises to interface with metering station (Work No. 21); and temporary access, temporary access roads and any temporary subsidence monitoring stations required by the highway authority;

• Work No. 20G — an interconnector gas pipeline connecting from metering station (Work No. 21) National Grid feeder main No. 21 to Station Lane including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Station Lane and watercourses/drains; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) save where the pipeline rises to interface with metering station (Work No. 21); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access and temporary access roads;

• Work No. 20H — an interconnector gas pipeline from Station Lane connecting to National Grid feeder main No. 15 including a gas pressure pipeline laid in trench or by trenchless methods crossing Station Lane, Footpath No. 4 and Footpath No. 2 and watercourses/drains; all to be constructed not less than 1 metre below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable) and not more than 10 metres below ground surface (or below bed of watercourse where applicable); and temporary fencing, stock proof fencing, temporary access and temporary access roads;

• Work No. 21 — an interconnector gas pipeline metering station including a gas metering station containing underground pipework, a metering station instrument building, above ground valves and pipework, a pipe pig reception/insertion area, an area reserved for extension of the facility, extensions of those parts of the interconnector gas pipeline comprised in Work Nos. 20F and 20G which link to elements of this Work No., temporary access tracks and turning areas adjacent to the NTS Feeder 21 control valve station and an access track to Station Lane and security fencing and landscaping;

• in connection with the above Work Nos. further associated development within the Order limits consisting of—

  1. a

     mechanical, electrical and telecommunications equipment and the provision of utilities services;

  2. b

     ramps, means of access, footpaths and bridleways;

  3. c

     embankments, shafts, foundations, retaining walls, drainage, valves, air valves, washout valves, stopcocks and other pipe fittings, fencing and culverts;

  4. d

     works to alter the course of, or otherwise interfere with a watercourse other than a navigable watercourse;

  5. e

     works to construct pipelines and to remove or alter the position of apparatus including mains, sewers, drains and cables;

  6. f

     landscaping, ecological mitigation works and other works to mitigate any adverse effects of the construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised development;

  7. g

     works for the benefit or protection of land affected by the authorised development;

  8. h

     works required for the strengthening, improvement, maintenance or reconstruction of any streets;

  9. i

     works to install subsidence monitoring systems and equipment where any subsidence to existing brine caverns may affect any part of the authorised development; and

  10. j

      such other works, including working sites and works of demolition as may be necessary to expedite for the purposes of or in connection with the construction of the authorised development and which fall within the scope of the environmental statement.

Any person authorised by the MMO shall be entitled at all reasonable times to enter into and upon any of the licence holder’s installations, vessels or equipment used or to be used in connection with the activities authorised by this licence in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 8 (common enforcement powers) of the 2009 Act.

In the application of section 72 of the 2009 Act to this licence, subsection 72(8) of the 2009 Act shall not apply to a transfer made in accordance with article 8 (transfer of benefit of Order) of the Order.

The licence conditions shall bind any person who for the time being owns, occupies or enjoys any use of the licensed works.

The licence holder (and any agent, contractor or subcontractor acting on its behalf) may engage in the licensed activities in the area bounded by the following coordinates—

Where the words “unless otherwise agreed” appear in this licence, any such agreement or statement may be given only in relation to immaterial changes where it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of MMO that the subject matter of the approval or agreement sought is unlikely to give rise to any materially new or materially different environmental effects from those assessed in the environmental statement.

In this Schedule—

• “the 1999 Regulations” means the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 199939;

• “the 2010 Regulations” means the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 201040;

• “132kV electrical circuits” means the works described in Work Nos. 17A to 17C of Schedule 1;

• “aftercare” means monitoring, maintenance and management of land within the Order limits following its restoration;

• “brine discharge pipeline” means the works described in Work Nos. 16A to 16L of Schedule 1;

• “commence” means begin to carry out any material operation (as defined in section 155 of the 2008 Act) other than operations consisting of site clearance, demolition work, archaeological investigations, investigations for the purpose of assessing ground and geological conditions, remedial work in respect of any contamination or other adverse ground conditions, diversion and laying of services, erection of any temporary means of enclosure, the temporary display of site notices or advertisements and “commencement” and “commenced” shall be construed accordingly;

• “competent authority” means the Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency acting jointly;

• “construction phase” means the period during which works to construct the authorised development are carried out;

• “construction work” means construction works undertaken during the construction phase;

• “decommissioned cavern” means an operational cavern decommissioned pursuant to paragraph 32 or 33;

• “decommissioning” means the decommissioning of operational caverns, structures, hoardings and other infrastructure comprised in the authorised development when it is no longer required for operational use or, as the case may be, upon the permanent cessation of operation of the authorised development;

• “decommissioning phase” means the period during which the authorised development is decommissioned following permanent cessation of operation of the authorised development;

• “European protected species” has the same meaning as in regulation 40 of the 2010 Regulations;

• “European site” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 8(1) of the 2010 Regulations and includes the Morecambe Bay site designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, ratified by the United Kingdom in 1976 and known as the “Ramsar Convention”;

• “existing mineworking” means a mineworking which existed prior to the making of this Order;

• “Flints Caravan Park plan” means the drawing dated September 2012 and given drawing reference A-9100-4001 certified as the Flints Caravan Park plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order;

• “Harbour Village plan” means the drawing dated September 2012 and given drawing reference A-9100-4003 certified as the Harbour Village plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order;

• “Kneps Farm Holiday Park plan” means the drawing dated September 2012 and given drawing reference A-9100-4002 certified as the Kneps Farm Holiday Park plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order;

• “mudstone” means the members of the Kirkham Mudstone formation known as the Coat Walls Mudstone Member (above the Preesall halite deposit) and the Thornton Mudstone Member (beneath the Preesall halite deposit), belonging to the Mercia Mudstone Group, characterised by a distinctive sequence of alternately red-brown and grey-green well bedded mudstones with many thin intercalations of siltstone and dolomitic siltstone and more particularly described on the Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales) Sheet 66, 1:50,000 Series, Solid and Drift Edition, of the British Geological Survey Classification entitled “The Geology of the country around Blackpool” dated 1990 and further described in the accompanying British Geological Survey Sheet Memoir 66;

• “NTS interconnector pipeline” means the works described in Work Nos. 20A to 20H of Schedule 1 (authorised development);

• “operational phase” means the period during which the authorised development is in operational use as an underground gas storage facility;

• “permanent cessation” means—

  1. a

     where it is referred to in the context of a part of the authorised development the cessation of operation of that part in circumstances that at the time of such cessation it is the undertaker’s understanding and expectation that that part of the authorised development will not be returned to operational use at any point in the future; and

  2. b

     where it is referred to in the context of the authorised development as a whole the cessation of operation of the authorised development in circumstances that at the time of such cessation it is the undertaker’s understanding and expectation that the authorised development as a whole will not be returned to operational use at any point in the future;

• “reaming” means the process used to increase a pilot hole to the required size;

• “restoration” means the restoration of land within the Order limits for future use after permanent cessation of the operation of the authorised development;

• “stage” means a defined section or part of the authorised development, the extent of which is shown in a scheme submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority pursuant to paragraph 3 (stages of authorised development);

• “wet rockhead areas” means those parts of the subsoil of the Order limits shown on Figure 5.7 (Distribution of known wet rockhead (BGS data)) in the geology summary report where what was formerly the Preesall halite deposit has been dissolved by groundwater circulation such that mudstone strata overlying what was formerly the Preesall halite deposit have collapsed into it.

The authorised development must commence within five years of the date of this Order.

No authorised development shall commence until a written scheme setting out all the stages of the authorised development has, after consultation with the highway authority, been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority.

No stage of the authorised development shall commence until details of the external materials for any building within that stage have been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority.

During the construction phase, operational phase and decommissioning phase the loads of all heavy goods vehicles carrying friable bulk materials or waste shall be covered on route to and from the Order limits unless the load is otherwise enclosed or an incoming load is being uncovered for the purposes of inspection.

The access road between the wheel-cleaning facilities referred to in paragraph 14 (wheel cleaning facilities) and the boundary of the Preesall site shall, during the construction phase, be metalled and drained and kept clear of debris along its entire length at all times.

All filtered material resulting from solution mining shall be disposed of on-site unless otherwise agreed in writing with the relevant planning authority.

All topsoil and subsoil storage mounds arising from the authorised development shall be kept free from noxious weeds.

The undertaker shall in the course of construction of the works authorised under the marine licence set out at Schedule 7 (deemed licence under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009) ensure that any jack up barges or vessels utilised, when jacked up, shall exhibit signals in accordance with the UK standard marking schedule for offshore installations41.

Where under any of the above Requirements the approval or agreement of the relevant planning authority or another person is required, that approval or agreement must be given in writing.

With respect to any Requirement which requires the authorised development to be carried out in accordance with details agreed with the relevant planning authority, the agreed details shall be taken to include any amendments that may subsequently be agreed in writing with the relevant planning authority.

Where the words “unless otherwise agreed with the relevant planning authority” or “unless otherwise agreed in writing with the relevant planning authority” appear in these Requirements, any such agreement may only be given in relation to immaterial changes where it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of that authority that the subject matter of the approval or agreement sought is unlikely to give rise to any materially new or materially different environmental effects from those assessed in the environmental statement.