• Four cement and lime producers have come together to form Peak Cluster, a project helping to secure the future for 40% of the nation’s cement and lime industries.
• Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ) and Peak Cluster are collectively expected to safeguard and create 13,000 jobs by 2050, with around 1,500 jobs created across the East Midlands and North West during construction.
• The project, centred in in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, will prevent around three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.

12th January 2026: Peak Cluster has today launched a six-week consultation on plans to support the long-term sustainability of the UK’s vital cement and lime sector.

The project will capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from four historic cement and lime producers across three sites in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, transporting and storing it permanently beneath the East Irish Sea.

Peak Cluster will help to secure the future of Britain’s cement and lime industries – safeguarding and creating jobs and ensuring a reliable, ‘homemade’ supply of these essential materials.  This includes building material for the UK’s hospitals, homes and rail and essential minerals to purify our tap water and maintain healthy soil on which to graze animals and grow crops.

The production of cement and lime unavoidably generates CO₂ – the single largest contributor to climate change.

To meet this challenge, Peak Cluster will use carbon capture technology to lock away CO₂ emitted at Holcim’s Cauldon plant, Tarmac’s Tunstead cement plant, Buxton Lime’s Tunstead lime plant and Breedon’s Hope plant. The CO₂ will be safely transported in a purpose-built underground pipeline to Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ), a central CO₂ storage facility to be operated by UK energy company, Spirit Energy.

John Egan, Peak Cluster’s CEO, said:

“Peak Cluster is such an important project for Britian’s economy – helping to protect our vital industries and securing highly-skilled jobs.  With cement imports having tripled in the last 20 years, and domestic production at its lowest level since the 1950s, there has never been a greater need to build a resilient, sustainable supply. Peak Cluster will be the world’s largest cement and lime decarbonisation project – using proven technology to establish the UK as an international leader in responsible, sustainable manufacturing.”

Following initial studies and research, Peak Cluster is entering its first consultation phase, which will provide those interested with an opportunity to find out more directly from the project team, ask questions and input their thoughts into the development process, helping to shape this important project as it progresses.

Consultation will run from 12th January 2026 until 11:59pm on 27th February 2026 and will include a range of in-person events and webinars.  Full information about the project, the consultation and details on how to contact  the project team, can be found on the project website here: www.peakcluster.co.uk

John Egan continued:

“The project team are keen to meet with those who live, work, and have an interest in the project.  We encourage you to visit our website, come and discuss the project with the team at our events and webinars, and let us know your views.

“This first consultation will help us shape the development of more detailed plans, which we hope to consult on again later in 2026.”

Once the proposals for this nationally significant infrastructure project are finalised, Peak Cluster aims to submit a Development Consent Order application in 2027.

– ENDS-

Notes to editors

• From the next decade, Peak Cluster will utilise carbon capture and storage technology to decarbonise 40% of the UK’s cement and lime production industry. It will:
  • boost growth in our industrial heartlands
  • help to secure a long-term supply of low carbon cement and lime products the British construction and manufacturing sectors rely on
  • support British industry to decarbonise and expand
• Peak Cluster brings together four of the UK’s leading cement and lime producers; Tarmac, Breedon, Holcim, Buxton Lime together with and the National Wealth Fund, SEEL and the low carbon energy project developer Progressive Energy
• National Wealth Fund has invested in Peak Cluster in a multi-million-pound investment. The £28.6 million investment unlocked £31 million from private partners, creating a flagship private-public partnership.
• Peak Cluster has partnered with Spirit Energy to utilise the UK’s largest carbon dioxide store, Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ).  MNZ (Morecambe Net Zero) is a joint venture between Spirit Energy and shareholders Centrica plc and Stadtwerke München GmbH (SWM) located off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness in the East Sea. MNZ | Peak Cluster will create and secure 13,000 jobs in the Midlands and North West England.

Contact

• Amy Bodey, External Relations Director: consultation@peakcluster.co.uk / 0775 485 2979

The National Wealth Fund and Treasury has backed Peak Cluster in a multi-million-pound investment:

• Boosting growth in our industrial heartlands
• helping to secure a long-term supply of low carbon cement and lime products the British construction and manufacturing sectors rely on
• supporting British industry to decarbonise and expand

The £28.6 million investment will unlock £31 million from private partners including Holcim, Tarmac, Breedon, SigmaRoc, Summit Energy Evolution and Progressive Energy, creating a flagship private-public partnership.

In addition, the investment unlocks Spirit Energy’s Morecambe Net Zero, the UK’s largest carbon dioxide store.  Together, they will create and secure 13,000 jobs in the Midlands and North West England.

Read the full press releases from HM Treasury and National Wealth Fund.

Thursday 25th July saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the launch of Great British Energy.

Great British Energy seeks to generate publicly‑owned revenue to reinvest into future energy projects, creating long-term benefits for customers.

Peak Cluster is one of the UK’s leading low carbon industrial clusters which will decarbonise 40% of the UK’s cement and lime industry to give low carbon products as Britain builds back.

John Egan, Project Director for Peak Cluster said:

“Decarbonisation, not deindustrialisation. This is how Britain will transition to Net Zero. And with this, we welcome today’s announcement on Great British Energy.  

Peak Cluster will use carbon capture and storage (CCS) to decarbonise 40% of the UK’s cement and lime industry – a vital step in the journey to Net Zero. Together with MNZ, potentially the UK’s biggest carbon dioxide store, we will capture, transport and store carbon dioxide to enable industry to continue its vital tasks while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and grow into new markets for sustainable products. 

“The Labour Government is keen to utilise energy infrastructure to secure good jobs with good wages, make low carbon products in Britain, grow the UK’s supply chain and skills base to lead the global low carbon technology sector and secure private investment.  Peak Cluster ticks every one of these boxes. 

“We will work closely with Government to ensure that Peak Cluster and MNZ create a backbone of industrial decarbonisation opportunity within the that benefits our communities in the north of England – for the UK and beyond.”