Path cleared for Wigan energy centre

Demolition of the town centre’s last gas holder has been greenlit, meaning work on the 46,200 sq ft facility could start in 2024.

In a decision notice published last week, Wigan Council gave the National Grid and its adviser WSP planning permission to demolish the gas holder and associated infrastructure at the site off Green Lane.

The other two gas holders at the Darlington Street gasworks site were demolished several years ago, however, the project was not pursued to the full extent, and the original consent is no longer extant.

WSP said in supporting documentation that the gas holder adds little to the visual amenity of the local area, the site being largely overgrown. Tetra Tech is also on the professional team.

Work is expected to take around 13 months, with a hoped-for start date of January 2023. With the site cleared, work can then begin on an energy centre that was put forward and approved in summer 2020.

The planning reference number for the project is A/22/94510/DEM.

The 46,200 sq ft facility will provide a standby supply of gas-powered electricity to the National Grid to prevent blackouts.

The facility was proposed by Warrington-based electricity provider Done Energy for the site, which lies close to the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

As outlined in the application, sometimes, when the source of electrical power transfers from fossil fuels to renewable energy, a temporary dip in the electricity supply can occur.

At the Green Lane site, natural gas will be burned when required, to plug the gaps in the National Grid’s electricity supply.

So as not to waste energy, the facility can be turned on or off as required and its usage will not exceed 2,500 hours a year.