United Living Infrastructure Services (ULIS) has been awarded a multi-million-pound contract by Cadent, the UK's largest gas distribution network, to carry out a major gas pipeline diversion in Ulverston, South Lakeland, Cumbria.

The existing Ulverston to Barrow pipeline supplies gas to tens of thousands of homes in the region. However, assessments of the pipeline, along with a history of settlement and leakages, have highlighted the need to reposition it away from the canal embankment and into an adjacent field to ensure long-term safety and reliability.

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As part of the project, ULIS will install an 850-metre, 12-inch heavy wall steel pipeline parallel to the existing one but outside the immediate embankment area. The company will oversee both the civil and mechanical installation, including the construction of a 75-metre-long, 1200mm-diameter micro-tunnel beneath the Ulverston Canal. This method ensures minimal disruption to the surrounding area while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Given the project's proximity to Morecambe Bay, a designated Ramsar site, Special Protection Area (SPA), and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), ULIS will implement rigorous environmental measures. Scheduled visits from ecologists will be conducted to oversee any ecologically sensitive work, ensuring compliance with conservation regulations.

Once the new pipeline is operational, the existing pipeline will be decommissioned. The transition will be carefully managed to prevent any impact on gas supply, securing a long-term, safe, and reliable energy source for the local community.