The site of a popular leisure centre which has been reduced to rubble could be transformed as part of a town's bid to battle climate change.
Last month, the ECHO reported Ellesmere Port was one of only two areas in the UK to be shortlisted to become the 'UK's first hydrogen village '. This means up to 2,000 homes in the Whitby area would stop using natural gas for heating and cooking and replace it with hydrogen.
The proposal has been submitted by gas distribution network Cadent and British Gas, and supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council, with the winning location to be supplied with hydrogen in 2025. And now a planning application has been put forward to construct a 'Hydrogen Experience Centre' on the vacant land once home to the EPIC leisure centre.
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The land, off McGarva Way, has been fenced off since demolition work began in 2015, which also coincided with the opening of the state-of-the-art Ellesmere Port Sports Village built to replace the EPIC.
The proposed Hydrogen Experience Centre would be used to showcase the use of hydrogen in domestic appliances, as well as providing the public with an area to ask any questions. Cadent Gas are behind the plans, which also include a children's play area.
Should the town's bid be successful, hydrogen would be supplied through the existing network of gas pipes. Unlike natural gas, it produces no carbon emissions when burned in a boiler to heat properties.
As part of the plans, every property in the selected area within Whitby would get free boiler upgrades, to new hydrogen-ready versions, meaning residents would continue using boilers they are already familiar with.
Speaking about the bid, Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “To help cut carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality in west Cheshire by 2045 we are looking at a range of different solutions, including alternative energy options, as set out in our Climate Emergency Response Plan.
“We’re already in a unique position to have the HyNet development on our doorstep, providing an opportunity to use hydrogen as a source of energy, not only to power industry in our area but also our homes. It will also provide significant job opportunities in a new, expanding sector, for people both locally and further afield.
“With the hope that the full 2025 village programme will be awarded to our region, the Council and Cadent will be working closely to create a strong community programme, with residents in Whitby, Ellesmere Port and throughout the borough. Residents will be engaged and empowered to co-produce this project throughout the process.”
If Ellesmere Port does become the #UK's first hydrogen village', homeowners would also receive a guarantee that there would be no hike in prices on existing rates for natural gas for the duration of the two-year programme.
Cadent's planning application for the new information centre states: "As part of Cadent's Hydrogen village OFGEM project, there is a requirement to create a public 'Hydrogen Experience Centre - HEC'.
"This facility will be used to showcase the use of hydrogen in domestic appliances, as well as providing the public with an area to ask any questions they may have around the implementation of hydrogen into homes.
"The facility will be created by utilising a combination of pre-fabricated office building and landscaping of the area."
