The Fisher German Pipelines team at the Ashby office have been involved with a mammoth construction project in Devon, acting as land agents for National Grid Gas.
National Grid Gas’s South West Reinforcement project is providing a 600mm diameter 75 km long pipeline between North Somerset and South Devon in order to double the rate of gas flow in the region and supply the new Centrica Langage Power Station.
The tunnel below the Exmouth estuary, however, is the single most costly part of the £100 million project. It plunges 30 metres below ground near Lympstone Royal Marine base in East Devon and re-emerges on the opposite bank near Powderham Castle.
The twin shafts at either end of the pipeline were deep enough to swallow 15 storey buildings and similar drilling apparatus was used to that on the channel tunnel. At almost 3 metres wide and over 1.5 km in length the tunnel has been constructed by specialist UK based contractor Byzak.
Fisher German’s role has been to negotiate agreements with landowners including the Crown Marine Estates and Lord Devon owners of the bed of the estuary.
In addition, agreements have had to be negotiated with other landowners to occupy over 30 acres of land at either side of the estuary for mobilisation areas and access routes.
Work commenced on the tunnel project in September 2006 and is programmed for completion in June this year.
For further details, contact Amy McSorley at the Ashby office on 01530 410867.
