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.
Developing our delivery strategy
Project Union: East Coast is likely to be taken forward as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means it will require one or more a Development Consent Order (DCO) applications 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
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.
- Built a world‑leading evidence base through our FutureGrid testing facility, carrying out real‑world trials on existing pipeline assets to demonstrate that hydrogen can be transported safely and reliably across the network.
- Engaged key stakeholders to provide early and transparent project updates.
What are we doing now?
Surveys and assessments
- We will soon be doing surveys along the Humber new build pipeline route, to gather data for our environmental impact assessment and to support our engineering design work on our new build pipelines in this area.
- We will be talking with landowners in the Humber area to arrange access for these surveys.
- We are continuing to progress detailed assessments for the repurposed sections and design work for the new build sections along the rest of Project Union: East Coast.
Engaging local stakeholders
- We are working closely with stakeholders to help us refine our proposals as they evolve, ensuring the project is informed by robust evidence and supporting the development of a safe, resilient and efficient hydrogen network.
- Early engagement is an important part of how we are developing Project Union: East Coast, enabling us to draw on local knowledge, understand environmental and planning considerations, and identify opportunities to minimise impacts wherever possible.
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.”
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.
Navigation
Delivering the Project
Find out more about how we plan to deliver Project Union: East Coast.
Delivering Project Union: East Coast