Arup has been selected by Peak Cluster to oversee the Environmental Impact Assessment and technical documentation for the Development Consent Order on the UK’s largest cement and lime decarbonisation project.
The initiative targets a sector that produces 40% of the nation’s cement and lime across Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The industry supports more than 2,000 regional jobs but generates over 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, accounting for nearly a quarter of local emissions.
Peak Cluster’s plan involves building carbon capture plants at sites operated by Tarmac, Buxton Lime, Breedon and Holcim. Captured emissions will be transported through a proposed underground pipeline to Spirit Energy’s Morecambe Net Zero storage site, where permanent offshore storage is planned.
Arup will lead the environmental assessment and consent process, with AECOM and Quod providing additional expertise. The work will examine the environmental impacts of both the carbon capture facilities and the pipeline during construction and operation. It will also address integration with Spirit Energy’s offshore infrastructure.
Richard Lowe, Director of Energy Consenting and Development at Arup, commented: “We are delighted to be playing such a key role in the development of this transformative project, in which the UK National Wealth Fund have invested, and to build on our deep involvement from its earliest stages. Peak Cluster is working to secure a sustainable future for the UK cement and lime industry and act as a blueprint for similar developments across Europe and the rest of the world.”
The project is positioned as a blueprint for decarbonising heavy industry, supporting low-carbon product development and securing long-term industrial capacity in the UK.
