Delivering Project Union: East Coast
In 2025, Ofgem confirmed £57m funding (in 25/26 pricing) for Project Union: East Coast for a 2-year Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) programme to carry out design, environmental assessment, consents and public consultation on proposals.
National Gas has transported natural gas for safely for 60 years demonstrating that that our National Transmission System is one of Europe's safest and dependable energy networks. We are now working with world class leaders in the engineering field to develop the first phase of Project Union, Project Union: East Coast, the blueprint for a national hydrogen network for Britain.
National hydrogen network design
Project Union: East Coast will include a mix a range of infrastructure, including repurposed and newly built pipelines, and Above Ground Installations.
Above ground installations
While the network is predominantly underground, a small number of above ground installations (AGIs) are required. These sites allow us to:
- safely control and monitor the network
- connect industrial users
- support maintenance and resilience
- provide expansion capability for the future
We will work closely with communities to agree suitable locations and minimise environmental effects
Repurposed pipelines
This involves adapting parts of the existing natural gas network to carry 100% hydrogen.
- Reduces construction time, cost and environmental disruption, helping to accelerate delivery of the national hydrogen network
- Makes efficient use of the extensive national transmission system, drawing on decades of proven safety and reliability while minimising local impacts
- Provides a quicker, lower-carbon route to creating strategic hydrogen infrastructure, while supporting a smooth transition for industrial users connected to the existing NTS
Newly built pipelines
This involves installing new pipelines where repurposing isn't feasible.
- Ensures the network can reach key industrial, production and storage locations that are not currently served by existing infrastructure
- Offers flexibility to design routes optimised for capacity, resilience and future expansion, supporting long-term growth in hydrogen production and demand
- Allows National Gas to incorporate the latest materials, technologies and safety systems from the outset.
National Gas and the future of hydrogen in Britain
Safely moving gas for more than 60 years
National Gas owns and operates the 5,000‑mile National Transmission System (NTS) which has transported gas the length and breadth of Great Britain for more than 60 years.
Decades of investment and innovation have shaped our NTS into one of Europe’s safest and most dependable energy networks. Project Union builds on this legacy, and the next major step in National Gas’ evolution and in the transformation of Great Britain’s gas transmission system for a low‑carbon future.
FutureGrid
FutureGrid is a leading hydrogen test facility. Using decommissioned NTS assets, it allows us to test every part of a hydrogen transmission network in a safe, controlled environment - providing real‑world evidence to support repurposing existing NTS pipelines to transport hydrogen.
Corinna Burger, National Gas Programme Director for Project Union
“National Gas is proud to be placing the East Coast at the heart of the UK’s emerging hydrogen network - supporting long‑term energy resilience, attracting new investment, and driving the decarbonisation of one of the nation’s most strategically important industrial corridors.”
Building the evidence base for a national hydrogen network
Our teams have:
- Engaged UK Government and industrial customers to demonstrate the needs case
- Visited European hydrogen pipeline projects to learn from real‑world construction and operations
We will continue to engage key stakeholders:
- Will carry out environmental surveys and engineering assessments across the East Coast
- Will gather data to inform routing, feasibility and environmental impact
- Consult all stakeholders and public on our proposals
- This work ensures our proposals are robust, evidence‑led and informed by global best practice
What's happening next with Project Union: East Coast
- In the coming months we will begin surveys along parts of the proposed route to help refine the route corridor before public consultation planned for later this year.
- We are continuing our engineering design work on the pipeline and planning for our upcoming environmental assessment work.
Developing our delivery strategy
Project Union: East Coast is likely to be taken forward as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means it requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) to construct the network.
Large, complex infrastructure projects are often delivered in stages. This approach would enable us to:
- minimise disruption
- make best use of existing infrastructure
- accelerate delivery
- focus consultation and environmental assessments in phases
As plans develop, we will provide updates and opportunities to help shape our proposals
The DCO Process
The process explained
Pre‑application
We refine proposals and complete environmental assessments. Stakeholders, landowners and the public are invited to give their views. This stage helps identify potential local sensitivities early so they can be addressed before the design is finalised.
Submission
We submit the application to the Planning Inspectorate. This marks the formal start of the consenting process and provides the full technical evidence required for consideration.
Acceptance
The Planning Inspectorate decides whether to accept the application for examination.
Pre‑examination
Stakeholders register as Interested Parties and attend a Preliminary Meeting. This stage ensures all relevant voices are captured early, helping shape the issues the Examination will focus on
Examination
Interested parties may present evidence, with hearings lasting up to six months. During this period, the Examining Authority reviews detailed submissions and may request further information to test the robustness of the proposal.
Decision
A final decision is then made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
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Delivering the Project
Find out more about how we plan to deliver Project Union: East Coast.
Delivering Project Union: East Coast