Staffordshire County cllrs look set to debate the impact of the proposed Peak Cluster Project on Staffordshire at a meeting of its Full Council.

The aim of the project would be to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from cement and lime plants in Derbyshire and Staffordshire and transfer it by pipeline to a storage facility under the Irish Sea, passing through parts of Derbyshire, the Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire and the Wirral.

The Peak Cluster project is the result of collaboration between several major cement and lime producers who hope to secure a supply of British-made cement and lime for the future.

Both are essential for building homes and infrastructure, producing safe drinking water and creating healthy soils for food production, both in the UK and globally.

According to the project website: "Peak Cluster will build the infrastructure to capture, transport and permanently lock away the CO2.

"With cement production responsible for 7.5% of global CO2 emissions, Peak Cluster will prevent over 3 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year, strengthening industry's resilience and opening up new opportunities for economic growth."

At a meeting of Staffordshire County Council's Scrutiny committee on economy, infrastructure and communities yesterday (25 June), local members shared their concerns about how the project may impact the local community with the committee.

Cllrs representing areas of the Staffordshire Moorlands raised a number of potential concerns on how the project could negatively affect the communities they serve including possible health and safety issues, impact on landowners, disruption due to construction and called for a full impact assessment from the developers.

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A taskforce of officers will be established to carry out further research into Peak Cluster and the committee recommended that the project now be taken to Full Council for discussion.

Staffordshire County Council has a statutory consultee technical planning role only and the final decision will be made by the Government who say that the carbon capture project would help to reduce emissions while supporting jobs and economic growth.

Further consultation is due to take place in Autumn and if approved, work will start in summer 2029, at the earliest.