Planning permission was received from the Welsh Government for the UK’s first carbon capture-enabled cement works – five months ahead of schedule
RSK and Heidelberg Materials UK worked together on Padeswood carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in North Wales – the first carbon capture enabled cement works in the UK.
Padeswood carbon capture and storage project, which will connect to the HyNet North West project, aims to be the first net zero cement facility in the UK and an exemplar for the deployment of carbon capture technology at an existing cement works site.
Once operational, it will capture and store approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum, capturing up to 95% of CO2 emissions from the existing Padeswood cement kiln.
The carbon capture project will create 500 jobs for local people and create new habitats for local amphibians
It is estimated that the project will create up to 500 additional jobs during the construction phase and will also create around 50 direct, long-term operational employment opportunities.
The project also proposes the creation of four new ponds, nine hibernacula and 17 refugia (places where amphibians can rest during the day and escape from predators and the sun and, in winter, where they will hibernate).
The planting of mixed deciduous woodland and the enhancement of grassland will cover an area of around 10.13 ha and will improve its value for great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) foraging and offer wider biodiversity benefits for other protected species.
Planning permission was received from the Welsh Government on 4 April 2025
RSK Environment Principal Environmental Consultant Harry Cross said the project is the furthest advanced carbon capture project at an operational cement works in the UK by some distance.
He said: “We are proud to have achieved planning permission for this important and rewarding project that demonstrates the UK leading the way on deploying CCS in the cement industry.
“Our work here saw RSK Environment acting as environment, consents and permitting lead, including coordinating the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and project managing the development of national significance (DNS) application.
“We were also able to draw on the skills and experience of 12 additional RSK Group businesses, including Joanna Berlyn from Stephenson Halliday as planning lead and Copper Consultancy as communications lead for the programme of community engagement and consultation.”
Copper Consultancy held eleven in-person and online community consultation events throught the pre-planning process.
He said that throughout the programme, RSK Environment worked closely with the project front end engineering design (FEED) team, advising on design requirements for planning.
Harry continued: “Our collaboration continued as the EIA evolved and work on the environmental statement began in 2023 through to 2024. Nine environmental factor assessments were undertaken, including landscape and visual, biodiversity, climate and noise and vibration, to understand the impact of the project on the environment and propose mitigation and enhancements to offset the impacts. Findings were reported in the environmental statement. ”
The combined RSK team compiled and submitted more than 100 documents as part of its contribution to the planning submission.
The 13 businesses involved in the DNS application were:
- RSK Environment (EIA coordination, geographic information system and permitting)
- Stephenson Halliday (planning and landscape & visual)
- ADAS Land (land referencing)
- Copper Consultancy (communications and public affairs)
- Nature Positive (climate)
- RSK Acoustics (noise and vibration)
- RSK Biocensus (biodiversity)
- RSK Air Quality (air quality)
- RSK ADAS (arboriculture and soils)
- RSK Geosciences (land and soils, material assets and waste)
- RSK Land and Development Engineering (water)
- Headland Archaeology (cultural heritage)
- SCP Transport (traffic and transport)
“Cement is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero”
Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive officer Simon Willis said: “This is fantastic news and a brings our plans to create the UK’s first net zero cement works a step closer.
“Cement is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero. It is fundamental to the development of everything from new offshore wind farms to nuclear power stations, to low carbon infrastructure, and the thousands of green jobs these projects will create.
“Our Padeswood CCS project will bring significant inward investment and opportunity to the region, boosting the North Wales economy and securing the future of hundreds of skilled jobs.
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