Key Points
- Cadent is upgrading over 40 kilometres of ageing gas pipes in Wirral as part of a £75 million North West programme from April 2025 to March 2026.
- Pipes over 100 years old supply gas to homes, hospitals, schools and industry, with more than 87% of Wirral homes relying on gas heating.
- Works minimise disruption through coordination with councils and techniques like inserting new plastic pipes into old ones.
- Upgrades support safer supply, reduce methane emissions and prepare networks for greener gases like biomethane.
Wirral (Liverpool Standard) February 10, 2026 – Cadent Gas is pressing ahead with essential upgrades to decades-old gas pipelines across Wirral, replacing more than 40 kilometres of infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable supply to thousands of homes and essential services.
The company has confirmed 40,668 metres of pipe will be modernised in Wirral during the year ending March 2026, topping the list of priority areas in its North West investment plan. These works form part of a broader 30-year UK-wide programme that began in 2002 and is now in its final phases.
What upgrades is Cadent undertaking in Wirral?
Cadent manages the underground gas network in the North West and is collaborating with Wirral Council to replace pipes installed over a century ago. According to Cadent’s official programme details, the upgrades target mains distributing gas to homes, hospitals, schools, offices and industry, with works scheduled from January to March 2026 in multiple locations across the borough.
As reported by Cadent Gas, engineers aim to complete these projects with minimal disruption by scheduling around other roadworks and using advanced insertion techniques for new plastic pipes in 95% of cases. Specific sites include Birkenhead Road in Meols, where 896 metres of 1930s pipe began upgrading in August 2025 over an eight-week period with temporary traffic lights.
How does this fit into Cadent’s wider North West plans?
The Wirral programme contributes to Cadent’s £75 million investment to replace 385 kilometres of pipeline region-wide by March 2026, equivalent to the distance from Liverpool to Dover. Place North West reports Wirral leads with 45,793 metres targeted in the 2024-2025 phase, ahead of Manchester, Liverpool, Sefton and Wigan.
What benefits do these upgrades provide?
Lucy Sterry, Head of Work Management in the North West for Cadent, stated:
“This is a major project that will guarantee residents living in Wirral receive a safe and reliable gas supply for decades to come. These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane.”
Mark Syers, Head of Investment Planning Office (North West), added that over 80% of North West homes depend on gas heating, making the work essential for safety and future hydrogen compatibility.
What are the next steps for residents?
Cadent continues routine maintenance, repairs and emergency responses alongside upgrades, with advance letters sent to affected properties. Customer satisfaction in the North West averaged 9.17 out of 10 last year. The firm commits to swift completion to limit road disruptions while modernising the network for long-term reliability and sustainability.
These investments underscore Cadent’s ongoing role in maintaining a resilient gas infrastructure across Wirral and the North West.
