Peak Cluster CO₂ pipeline: what farmers and landowners need to know before signing

2nd Dec 2025

Author: Butcher & Barlow

If you have had a letter from Peak Cluster, do not sign anything before you have taken your own advice.

Many farmers and landowners across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire received letters at the end of November about the Peak Cluster CO₂ pipeline.

If you have received a questionnaire or Licence for Survey, or you think your land lies close to the proposed route, it is important that you understand what this scheme is about and how we can help protect your position before you sign anything.

What is Peak Cluster and the proposed CO₂ pipeline?

Peak Cluster is a collaboration between major cement and lime producers in the Peak District and surrounding area. The project aims to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cement and lime works in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, then transport it via a new underground pipeline to depleted gas fields beneath Morecambe Bay, where it will be permanently stored.

The pipeline itself is expected to be around 24–36 inches in diameter and will be buried underground. Once construction is complete, the land above the pipe is intended to be restored so that it can continue to be farmed, subject to some restrictions in the easement.

The CO₂ will be collected from sites including Tunstead Lime & Cement, Hope Valley cement operations and Cauldon Cement, before heading north west towards the Wirral and on to offshore storage.

What is the letter or questionnaire actually about?

At this stage, Peak Cluster is still refining the pipeline route. A wide “corridor” has been identified on plans, but the actual strip of land required for the pipe will be much narrower than the area currently shown.

The letters and Land Information or Land Interest Questionnaires that have gone out are mainly about:

• Identifying the correct Landowners and Occupiers
• Understanding how the land is used and who farms it
• Gathering information to help design the route and plan access

Once the questionnaires have been returned and the information has been processed, Peak Cluster is expected to seek written consent from identified Landowners to carry out environmental and other surveys, currently anticipated to begin around March 2026.

You may also receive a Licence for Survey which allows consultants to come onto your land, often initially for walkover surveys.

Has the pipeline route been finalised?

No. The route has not been fixed.

Developers are currently working within a broad corridor from the cement and lime plants in the Peak District towards the Wirral, considering existing infrastructure, environmental constraints and local communities before narrowing that down to a defined route.

The corridor shown on early plans can be several hundred metres wide. The actual permanent route for the pipeline itself is likely to be only a fraction of this, plus land required for any Above Ground Installations and access tracks.

Who pays for professional advice?

It is currently expected that reasonable professional fees for both Land Agents and Solicitors acting for affected Landowners and Occupiers will be met by the project promoter rather than by individual farmers and landowners.

In other words, you should be able to take proper independent advice without being out of pocket. The detail of how this is handled will need to be confirmed in each case, but it is an important point to discuss at the outset.

Why take advice from a Land Agent or Surveyor?

A qualified Land Agent or Rural Surveyor can:

• Deal with day-to-day contact with the project team
• Advise on access routes for surveys and later construction
• Protect cropping, soil structure, drainage and field layouts
• Value disturbance, crop loss and other heads of claim
• Help you respond to questionnaires and licences in a way that protects your position
• Prepare for any compulsory purchase process if voluntary agreement cannot be reached

We expect many Landowners along the route to appoint an Agent so that they can negotiate from a position of strength and ensure that any agreement is properly documented.

Why do you also need advice from a Solicitor?

Even with a strong Agent on board, there are important legal issues that need careful consideration.

A Solicitor will:

• Check title and boundaries and confirm who needs to sign any agreement
• Identify existing rights over the land, such as other pipelines, cables or electricity pylons
• Review and negotiate the terms of survey licences to limit disruption and ensure land is reinstated
• Advise on the wording of the deed of easement that will grant permanent rights for the installation of the pipeline, ensuring your understand how the rights might impact your farming operation, future maintenance and what can and cannot be done on the land above the pipe
• Deal with the requirements of mortgage lenders or other funders where the land is charged
• Consider how any existing Overage, development clawback or promotion agreements might be affected, and whether further consents are needed

The CO₂ pipeline is likely to be a long-term burden on your land. The wording of the legal agreement will remain on the title and affect future sales, mortgages and development. It is therefore important that it is correct from the outset and that the deal you agree reflects both the immediate disruption and the long-term impact.

How Butcher & Barlow can help

Butcher & Barlow has a highly experienced Agricultural Team and Rural Land Specialists who regularly act for farmers, landed estates and rural businesses on major infrastructure schemes. Members of the Team have previously advised many Landowners affected by nationally significant projects such as HS2, as well as other pipeline and utility schemes, so we understand both the process and the practical realities on the ground.

We will:

• Work alongside your chosen Land Agent or help you find one if you have not yet appointed an Agent
• Review any letters, questionnaires or licences you have received and discuss what they mean in plain language
• Check your title position and any existing agreements that could be affected
• Negotiate the legal terms of survey access and, in due course, any easement or option agreement
• Co-ordinate with lenders and other interested parties to secure necessary consents

Next steps if you have been contacted about Peak Cluster

If your land or business has received questionnaires, licences for survey or other correspondence about Peak Cluster, or you believe your land lies close to one of the proposed pipeline corridors, you should seek advice before signing or returning any documents.

Our Agricultural and Rural Affairs Team can help you understand your options and protect your land for the future.

To speak to someone about the Peak Cluster CO₂ pipeline and how it may affect you, please contact our Agricultural and Rural Affairs Team on 01606 334309 or agriculture@butcher-barlow.co.uk.

For background information about the project itself, you may also wish to read Peak Cluster’s own “Your questions answered” page.

 

 

The information in this article was correct at the time of publication. The information is for general guidance only. Laws and regulations may change, and the applicability of legal principles can vary based on individual circumstances. Therefore, this content should not be construed as legal advice. We recommend that you consult with a qualified legal professional to obtain advice tailored to your specific situation. For personalised guidance, please contact us directly.