Farmers Fight Back: How a Pipeline Project Threatens a Historic Farm (2026)

"We have endured the challenges of HS2, but now a substantial pipeline project championed by Rachel Reeves threatens to divide our farm in two!"

Peter Oakes, a dairy farmer whose land narrowly avoided being bisected by the abandoned HS2 railway, is now confronted with the daunting prospect of a massive underground gas pipeline cutting through his property.

In an interview with The Independent, Oakes expressed his exasperation, describing the recent notification he received about a proposed 300-meter-wide pipeline stretching across his 160 acres of farmland as akin to "pushing s*** uphill."

This pipeline is one of two potential routes being evaluated for a 120-mile underground line, designed to transport carbon dioxide captured from cement and lime production facilities in Staffordshire and Derbyshire to storage locations beneath the Irish Sea. This initiative, named the Peak Cluster, is set to become the largest cement decarbonization project in the world, having secured £28 million from the government’s National Wealth Fund last year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has touted this project as a means to modernize industries, generate employment, and establish crucial carbon capture infrastructure.

However, for farmers like Mr. Oakes—whose family has tended to Park Farm for over 120 years—the pipeline represents yet another significant challenge following the protracted uncertainty regarding the HS2 line that loomed over their land for years. Although the high-speed rail project from Crewe to Manchester was scrapped two years ago, much of Oakes' land continues to be under safeguarding regulations, meaning that any future development or sale must involve consultation with HS2 to prevent potential disruptions from any new infrastructure projects.

Recently, government officials unveiled long-term plans for a new railway linking Birmingham and Manchester, adding even more uncertainty for landowners like Oakes. Simultaneously, he, along with many dairy farmers throughout the country, is grappling with declining milk prices and the gradual elimination of EU-linked subsidies.

Situated near Middlewich along the Shropshire Union Canal, Oakes remarked, "It’s an incredibly tough time for all of us right now, so you can imagine my feelings upon learning they plan to install a massive underground pipeline across my land—it feels like 'pushing s*** uphill' at this moment."

He further lamented the lack of governmental support for individuals like himself, who are constantly facing numerous hurdles, stating, "It’s distressing and is causing emotional strain on our family. We certainly do not want our land disturbed any further.

As part of a process known as "statutory blight," HS2 offered Oakes over £1 million for his farm, a compensation option available to property owners in safeguarded zones. However, Oakes explained that he has struggled to find a suitable replacement property and is hesitant to sell due to the deep-rooted family connections to the land.

Now, he must navigate the complexities of the Peak Cluster project, which has initiated a consultation process regarding the pipeline route this month.

The company behind the project has indicated that while their proposals show a corridor width of 300 meters, actual construction would necessitate a trench up to 40 meters wide, typically requiring six months of work. Their aim is to negotiate voluntary agreements with landowners for pipeline construction; however, they reserve the right to pursue compulsory measures if necessary. Following the current consultation phase, there will be another round later this year before ministers reach a final decision on the project within the next two years.

John Egan, the chief executive of Peak Cluster, stated, "We have made efforts to identify and contact all potentially affected landowners within the proposed 300-meter-wide corridor. We will engage individually with each landowner and strive to reach voluntary agreements. Only if these discussions do not succeed will we resort to compulsory access or acquisition powers.

Once construction is complete, we will restore the agricultural land so farmers can continue using it as they have always done. We will also ensure that existing drainage systems remain functional. When the construction concludes, just like with other pipelines buried beneath our feet, the land will look and feel just as it did prior to work commencing."

The Independent has reached out to the Treasury for further comments.