Project information
About the project
Type of application: Other Pipe-lines
Name of applicant: H2NorthEast Limited
H2NorthEast is a carbon capture and storage enabled blue hydrogen production facility of up to 1,065 MW thermal capacity. It aims to support cost-effective industrial decarbonisation across north-east England and the UK net zero ambition, create new jobs, safeguard existing jobs and attract private investment and growth back to Teesside.
The proposed development comprises of a Hydrogen Production Facility (HPF), carbon dioxide capture and compression facilities and export connection, hydrogen distribution trunk pipelines, air separation unit or oxygen supply pipeline, electricity grid connection, water supply and treatment, wastewater treatment and disposal, wastewater and effluent pipelines, and other associated infrastructure.
Phase 1 of the project will provide 355MW blue hydrogen to local industrial customers, with Phase 2 increasing the capacity to over 1GW. New hydrogen distribution trunk pipelines will connect the site to local industrial customers to support decarbonisation of their operations. The CO2 generated and captured by the H2NorthEast facility will be exported via a connection to the Northern Endurance Partnership CO2 gathering, compression and transportation pipeline infrastructure for permanent storage underground in the Southern North Sea.
Project stage
This project is at the pre-application stage.
The application is expected to be submitted Between January and March 2026.
When we receive the application, we have 28 days to decide whether to accept it for examination.
If we accept the application, you will then be able to register to have your say and view all the application documents.
Pre-application
In progress
This is where the applicant starts to create their application. The applicant is required to consult with people and organisations in the area. They must also create detailed documents about the impact the project could have on the environment.
It is important to get involved at this stage to influence the application before the applicant sends it to the Planning Inspectorate.
Find out what you can do at this stage and check our detailed guides.
Acceptance
Not started
This is when the applicant sends us their application documents. We check if we can accept the application for examination. We have 28 days to make this decision.
How the acceptance stage works and what happens next.
Pre-examination
Not started
The Examining Authority is appointed and is made up of one or more inspectors. Anyone who wants to have their say needs to register at this stage.
The applicant must publish that the application has been accepted by us. They include when and how parties can register to get involved. The time period for registering is set by the applicant but must be no less than 28 days.
The pre-examination stage usually takes about 3 months.
What happens during the pre-examination stage.
Examination
Not started
The Examining Authority will ask questions about the proposed development. The applicant and anyone who has registered to have their say can get involved and submit comments at each deadline in the timetable. You can also attend hearings that may take place. This stage takes up to 6 months.
What happens at the examination stage?
Recommendation
Not started
The Examining Authority writes its recommendation report. This must be completed and sent to the relevant Secretary of State within 3 months of the end of examination stage.
Making a recommendation.
Decision
Not started
The decision stage is when the relevant Secretary of State then reviews the report and makes the final decision. They have 3 months to make a decision.
Who makes the final decision.
What happens after the decision is made
Not started
Once the Secretary of State has made a decision, challenges can be made to the High Court. All procedures must be followed when making a challenge. The High Court will decide if there are grounds for a judicial review.
This must happen within 6 weeks.
What you can do after the decision has been made.Project location
The project is to be located on Seal Sands, within the administrative boundary of Stockton Borough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. The proposed hydrogen distribution pipeline will link from the Hydrogen Production Facility to Cowpen Bewley to the west (approximately 7km in length) and Wilton to the east (approximately 10km in length). The total length of the three customer spur pipelines is around 2.6km.
Get updates
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- updates on project progress
- information on how to have your say
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Contact us
Telephone
If you have an interested party number, have it with you when you call.
Telephone: 0303 444 5000
Open Monday to Friday: 9am to 4pm.
Closed on weekends and bank holidays.
h2ne@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
When writing an email, quote the name of the project in the subject line.
We aim to respond within 10 working days.
Alternative formats
Call or email to ask for project documents in alternative formats such as PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.