THE planning inspectorate is due to deliver its report on the proposed Keuper gas storage facility before the end of the year.

The Government’s examination of plans for the underground storage facility, due to be built on the Holford Brinefield north of Middlewich, closed on September 16.

There will now be a period of three months for the Examining Authority – planning inspector Jonathan Green – to consider the findings.

On or before December 16, he will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who will have three months in which to make their decision.

The application by Keuper Gas Storage Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary of INEOS Enterprises Group – was initially received last November, and accepted for examination the following month.

From there, public consultations were held and representations submitted by a number of interested parties.

Confirming the closure of the examination, Mr Green wrote: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the examination through written submission and participation in oral hearings.

“The findings and conclusions arising from the examination, together with my recommendation will be sent to the Secretary of State … no later than December 16, 2016.”

The plans involve creating 19 new cavities, between 450 and 850 metres below the surface through controlled solution mining.

The total gas stored on site will be 800,000 tonnes of natural gas, with an operational period of up to 50 years. At this point, land will be decommissioned, dismantled and returned to agricultural use.

Features of the site include 19 gated access wellheads, a gas processing plant, a permanent office and road networks.

The Keuper Gas Storage Project website explains: “Because of the project’s importance in helping the UK meet its increasing energy needs, the KGSP is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

“This means that rather than going through the local authority like most planning applications, the project requires a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of State.

“This process is managed by the Planning Inspectorate. The KGSP has a webpage on the Planning Inspectorate website.”

Information about the project and its timeline can be found at kgsp.co.uk and infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/keuper-gas-storage-project.