Picture: Peak District, Near Castleton, Which Is At The Western End Of The Hope Valley
Report by Local Democracy Reporter – Jon Cooper
Developers behind the controversial Peak Cluster carbon capture pipeline scheme have announced a project boundary update with alterations to the proposed route and corridor for the project which aims to travel through Derbyshire.
Peak Cluster, which is made up of cement and lime producers in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, is overseeing the project that will capture carbon dioxide from four cement and lime producers across sites in Buxton and the Hope Valley, in Derbyshire, and near Cauldon, in Staffordshire, with an underground pipeline.
It’s proposed scheme, which is in its pre-application stage, aims to take CO2 from the connecting cement and lime plants and quarries to the proposed Morecambe Net Zero carbon storage site beneath the Irish Sea after passing through Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Merseyside to help secure the industry and reduce carbon emissions.
Following opposition from Derbyshire County Council and campaigners and an initial consultation which attracted more than 5,500 responses, Peak Cluster has announced changes to the proposed route affecting the southeast of the Dove Holes Quarry to Tunstead’s proposed Above Ground Installation (AGI) as well as to four other areas of the overall planned route.
David Parkin, CEO of Peak Cluster Ltd, said: “The updated project boundary demonstrates how we’ve engaged, heard and acted. It shows our commitment to continue working with local communities and stakeholders to develop a project that takes into account groups’ priorities as far as possible, minimising local impact.
“We look forward to consulting with stakeholders and the public on these proposed changes, and the project’s evolving design, to further refine proposals.”
Proposed scheme work plants include: Buxton Lime’s Tunstead lime plant, at Tunstead Quarry, off Waterswallows Rd, in Buxton; Breedon’s Hope cement plant, at Pindale Road, in the Hope Valley; Tarmac’s Tunstead cement plant, at Waterswallows Road, Tunstead House, in Buxton; and Holcim’s Cauldon plant between Cauldon and Waterhouses villages in Staffordshire.
Following engineering assessments, Peak Cluster’s changed plans have removed the proposed pipeline route section from Peak Forest to the north of Dove Holes after establishing a more direct route to connect Breedon’s Hope cement plant and Tarmac Tunstead Cement Works to the south.
This has reduced the overall length of the pipeline, according to Peak Cluster, so it avoids existing infrastructure and addresses terrain challenges near Dove Holes and Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Peak Cluster has also removed the proposed feeder AGI from plans due to terrain challenges and a review of the system design which has allowed them to move the pipeline connection point back to the planned Tunstead.
This has meant that Peak Cluster has also removed the search area for the proposed AGI between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Dove Holes.
The proposed pipeline route along Eccles Road between Whaley Bridge and Chapel-en-le-Frith to the north east has also been moved to reflect the land’s use.
Other areas undergoing proposed changes outside of Derbyshire include southwest of Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, and Moss Houses and southeast of Holmes Chapel, in Cheshire, south of Abbey Green, near Leek, and north of Hargrave and Cotton Abbotts, also in Cheshire.
Peak Cluster added that amendments have been made to around 15per cent of the proposed pipeline route by revising the area of land included within the project boundary while ensuring the project’s safe construction and operation.
In most locations, the project has reduced the corridor it consulted on earlier this year from 300 metres to approximately 100 metres, according to Peak Cluster.
The developers added that this reduced change still remains wider than the land expected to be permanently required for the pipeline and provides flexibility for further design refinement as the project progresses.
Peak Cluster revealed its updated boundary, on September 21, showing the land within which the project currently proposes to build permanent
infrastructure including the buried pipeline and above-ground installations.
It does not include land that may be required temporarily for construction or access, or the specific locations of planned Above Ground Installations (AGIs) which are still being refined as the design progresses.
Peak Cluster will consult on these changes in the coming months, providing communities, landowners and stakeholders with an opportunity to learn more about the proposed amendments and share their views.
In November, the project will consult on changes to proposals within Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire. In January, it will consult on changes to the proposals associated with the Wirral.
Both consultations will last about six weeks and feedback will help inform the next version of the project’s design.
Peak Cluster stated that information on consultation activities, and how the public can get involved, will be shared in October to ensure communities and stakeholders have every opportunity to participate and prepare.
It added that its focus for the upcoming consultations is on refining the locations for the pipeline and infrastructure.
In addition, there will be further opportunities to provide feedback on other project aspects in the phase 2 consultation in summer 2027.
This will include more detail on the overall project design, construction and operation.
Mr Parkin added: “Since we began developing Peak Cluster, we’ve been following an iterative design process followed by all nationally significant infrastructure projects.
“Early designs were shared and consulted on to gather feedback which, alongside technical studies, engineering assessments and environmental surveys, has helped us continue to shape the project, until we apply for development consent from the Government.
“We’ve used this process to understand where our design can be improved and adapted in recognition of public concerns and environmental constraints, while ensuring the project remains safe, effective and operationally feasible.”
Peak Cluster stated the project aims to secure the future of Britain’s cement and lime industries while safeguarding and creating jobs and ensuring a reliable, ‘homemade’ supply of essential materials while greatly reducing harmful carbon emissions.
However, Derbyshire County Council has agreed to oppose the plans, which will run through the Peak District, due to safety concerns for residents, farmers and landowners while agreeing to support the county’s quarries and cement industry to secure Government funding to reduce emissions at source.
The Action Against Carbon Capture Storage (AACCS) campaign group has also raised concerns about disruption and the feared threat to farmland, biodiversity and countryside bordering on the National Park and damage to the Wirral coastline particularly from the planned large AGIs needed to transport the CO2.
It has organised a ‘solidarity’ relay walk with different sections for walkers along parts of the previously proposed estimated 200km route for the underground pipeline on September 27.
Once the scheme proposals are finalised, Peak Cluster aims to submit a Development Consent Order application in 2027 for Government approval.
The Labour Government has agreed to award £28.6m towards the estimated £59.6m project with the remaining funding for the scheme to come from private firms, according to the Planning Inspectorate.
A Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said carbon capture, usage and storage is vital for Britain’s clean energy future and will support thousands of jobs across the country and all such projects will need to meet strict environmental requirements.
Those wishing to find out more can visit the project website at https://peakcluster.co.uk/ and the Interactive Map with the proposed changes at https://peakcluster-consultation.co.uk/index.php?contentid=6 for details.
Anyone wishing to take part in different sections of the AACCS solidarity ‘Pipewalk’ are also urged to visit https://highpeak.actionagainstccs.com/2026/08/14/pipewalk/ for details.
