Kilkern delivers key access works at flagship energy project
10th Sep 2026
Kilkern has completed critical culvert and bridging works at the Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP) project in Cheshire to strengthen a key access to the energy-from-waste facility as it nears commissioning.
Contracted directly by site landowner Tata Chemicals Europe, civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Kilkern designed and installed a series of precast concrete over-slabs to bridge and protect an existing culvert that also carried high-voltage electricity infrastructure.
The culvert is located on the south side of the facility at Northwich where LSEP is approached from Griffiths Road across the navigable Wincham Brook.
Twenty-four-hour working was essential to meet a very tight schedule coordinated with an agreed shutdown by existing site occupant INEOS Inovyn. The project had to be completed between 18.00 on Monday and 06.00 on Friday, a window of just three and a half days.
Kilkern worked closely with Tata, LSEP, INEOS Inovyn, ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) and consulting engineers Fichtner throughout delivery.
Close liaison with utilities
Following liaison with SPEN to manage the temporary isolation of the 11kV cables, Kilkern removed an existing temporary bridge, Kelly blocks and access ramps before carrying out a reduced-level excavation to expose the existing culvert. The two 11kV cables were then slewed to allow installation of the new precast units.
A Liebherr Group 150 tonne all-terrain mobile crane supplied by Ainscough Crane Hire was used to lift and place the purpose-designed concrete over-slabs, each weighing up to 10 tonnes.
Following installation, Kilkern waterproofed the new structure and backfilled the excavation before the 11kV cables were returned to their original alignment and reconnected.
The final reinstatement phase included installing new kerblines, footways and verges alongside full-depth carriageway surfacing.
Precision and joined-up thinking
Patrick Curran, Director at Kilkern, said the combination of the restricted programme, existing high-voltage infrastructure and heavy lifting requirements called for careful planning and coordination.
“This was a challenging project bringing together a number of activities that had to be completed in a very tightly controlled sequence. We literally had one chance to get it right,” he said.
“The two 11kV cables were a key consideration throughout. Working closely with SPEN allowed them to be safely isolated and moved while we exposed the existing culvert and installed the new precast units.
“Given the need to work with one eye always on the clock, our knowledge of the site and good working relationship with other suppliers stood us in very good stead. Nevertheless, this was a tight window and it is a testament to the Kilkern team that we were able to complete the job successfully with no issues.
“LSEP is a major infrastructure project and we are proud that Kilkern is playing a part in its construction.”
LSEP is being developed as a joint venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and FCC Environment. Once operational, the facility will use residual waste material remaining after recyclable elements have been removed to generate energy.
The plant is expected to export 69.9MW of electricity to the grid, generating enough power for around 125,000 homes, equivalent to more than two-thirds of households across Cheshire West and Chester.
Kilkern’s involvement at LSEP also includes hardstanding and access road construction, groundworks, underground services, water mains installation and connections, as well as the construction of an attenuation tank to strengthen stormwater management across the site.
