Securing consent for the UK's first hydrogen facility

From October 2019 to June 2020, we supported Ryse Hydrogen on their industrial proposal for the UK’s first hydrogen facility in Herne Bay, Kent. The proposals would see a storage and refuelling station for hydrogen-powered vehicles built on waste land.

The campaign coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on social engagement, with the project team traversing the challenge of moving from in-person exhibitions and support generation with local residents, to virtual consultation and successful stakeholder engagement.

This included telephone calls with undecided wavering councillors and committee members in the weeks leading up to committee, as well as pitches to stakeholders, which contributed to the overwhelming approval at committee.

The key messaging included shifting public opinion away from initial concerns over the site, to acknowledging the valuable contribution the proposals made towards tackling the climate emergency.

We also supported in promoting the scheme across the national media, having assisted in drafting an article that was featured in The Times environment pages in May 2020.

We delivered the lease and planning permission, securing support from officers, the local MP, county councillor and approval at Canterbury City Council’s Planning Committee in with 12 votes for and 1 abstention, in June 2020.

The project was awarded PRCA Planning Campaign of the Year 2020, in light of the extensive engagement undertaken by the project team.