PLANS are being prepared to relocate a proposed £31m science and research facility to Thornton Science Park near Ellesmere Port.

The UK Geoenergy Observatory project team will submit a planning application in October for its "world class" Cheshire Observatory.

If approved, the scheme would likely be delivered in full by 2023.

Original planning permission was granted for the Cheshire Observatory to be sited at Ince Marshes.

However, the Cheshire Observatory is now planning to move to Thornton Science Park because of the outcome of ground investigations at the proposed site.

These identified difficult subsurface conditions, including:

  • The rest water level in the bedrock aquifer, artesian groundwater, was above surface level. This would lead to drilling difficulties and the need to seal wellheads to prevent water flowing out of the wells.
  • Soft ground to a greater depth than expected, which would make drilling more difficult and costly.
  • Much deeper bedrock than expected, which would also lead to a significant increase in drilling costs and reduce options for research using the facility.

Subject to new planning permission being granted by Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Cheshire Geoenergy Observatory will instead move to Thornton Science Park.

Dr Mike Spence, science director at the British Geological Survey for the UK Geoenergy Observatories said: “Relocating the Observatory to Thornton Science Park will deliver a world-class science and research facility for scientists and innovators working in subsurface energy storage, to meet the challenges associated with decarbonising our society.

“Thornton Science Park is located in an area of large sustainable energy projects and the Observatory will be an ideal focal point for collaboration between university researchers and industry, including local companies that could directly benefit from storing heat underground.”

Being on higher ground than Ince Marshes, the new site is not impacted by artesian groundwater and has shallow bedrock, evidenced by previous work in the area.

Dr Spence added: “The Cheshire Observatory will provide unique insight into the response of the subsurface to energy transfer and storage with real-time, 3D-imaging of subsurface processes.”

“The Cheshire Observatory infrastructure will support control of groundwater flow, heating and cooling of the subsurface and high-resolution monitoring using advanced sensors and multilevel sampling installations.

"The Glasgow Observatory, which is equipped to investigate thermal storage in former mine workings, is already delivering these benefits for researchers and partners across the UK.

"The Cheshire Observatory will provide researchers with the at-scale test facilities that can be used to optimise the design and operation of subsurface energy storage systems. These systems are an important and growing component of the UK’s heating and cooling demand."

Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, said: “Thornton Science Park provides an excellent location for the Cheshire Observatory, not just in terms of the site’s physical features, but also in terms of the university’s regional and national networks.

“We are a national hub for clean growth expertise and innovation and home to multinationals and SMEs which complement the research that will take place at the Observatory.”