AN application for the creation of an underground gas storage facility at Holford Brinefield has been given development consent.

The site north of Middlewich would house a Keuper Gas Storage Facility, consisting of 19 underground caverns, gas processing plant and associated development to store up to 500 million cubic metres of natural gas.

Work will involve stopping up streets, taking up and altering water and sewer pipes and the felling of trees.

The consent was given by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide resilience to the UK gas supply network.

The application was initially submitted to the planning inspectorate in November 2015 and following a long process a recommendation was made to Secretary of State Greg Clark MP in December 2016.

Sarah Richards, the Planning Inspectorates chief executive, said: “It is the 65th application for a nationally significant infrastructure project and the 43rd energy project to be examined and decided.

“This provides developers and investors with the confidence to build and improve the infrastructure this country needs to secure future economic growth.”

Local people, authority and interested parties participated in a six month long examination to give their views on the matter.

Documents relating to the application are available to view free of charge at Northwich Library, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Halton Direct Link.