SOE10686 – Coldharbour Lane, Hilldenborough (Coldharbour Lane)

Update: 14.02.2026

Our team returned to Coldharbour Lane on 5 January. Last week, they successfully completed the final 200 metres of insertion, working from the bridge crossing the stream to outside Trench Farm.
This week, the team has begun the final phase of works, which involves an open-cut trench of approximately 200 metres. This section of gas main needs to be upsized in order to increase gas pressures in the area. These works are expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.
Due to the nature of this work and the limited width of the road, access will be very restricted during this period. A letter will be issued to residents providing further details about access arrangements and what to expect while these works are carried out.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we complete the final stage of this essential upgrade. 

Update: 10.02.2026

Unfortunately, the team has been unable to locate the existing plastic gas main that we need to connect into. As a result, the open-cut trench had to be extended by approximately 50 metres, which has added around one extra week to the programme.

This Week’s Works

The open-cut works between outside Park Lodge and Coldharbour Park are now being completed.
Once this section is finished, the team will move into the final section outside the hospital grounds. This area will require a small amount of additional investigation work before replacement can begin.
We anticipate this final section will take approximately two weeks, after which all works will be fully complete.

Reinstatement

Over the weekend, verge repairs were carried out using topsoil to support regrowth in affected areas.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to complete these essential gas network improvements.

Update: 27.01.2026

This week, the open-cut works from outside Park Lodge to Coldharbour Park are being completed. Once this section is finished, the team will move on to the final section outside the hospital grounds, which will require a small amount of investigation work before it can be completed. We anticipate this final section will take approximately two weeks, after which all works will be fully complete.

Over the weekend, verge repairs were carried out using topsoil to encourage re-growth in the affected areas.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to complete these essential improvements.

Update: 14.01.2026

Our team returned to Coldharbour Lane on 5 January. Last week, they successfully completed the final 200 metres of insertion, working from the bridge crossing the stream to outside Trench Farm.
This week, the team has begun the final phase of works, which involves an open-cut trench of approximately 200 metres. This section of gas main needs to be upsized in order to increase gas pressures in the area. These works are expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.
Due to the nature of this work and the limited width of the road, access will be very restricted during this period. A letter will be issued to residents providing further details about access arrangements and what to expect while these works are carried out.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we complete the final stage of this essential upgrade.

Update: 16.12.2025

Last week, our team progressed works from the Hospital, successfully replacing over 560 metres of gas main.
This week, the team will continue with a further 150 metres, extending the works to outside Trench Farm.
Once this section is complete, reinstatement will follow, and the road will be fully cleared by 23/12/2025.

January 2026 Works

The team will return in the New Year from 05/01/2026, continuing the remaining works for approximately five weeks, picking up from where they left off.

Thank You

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we deliver these essential gas network upgrades.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎄🎉

Update: 02.12.2025

Project Update – Additional Details

Unfortunately, our scheduled pipe push from last Friday has been moved to 02/12/2025. This delay is due to poor pressures in the road, which required us to install measures to increase local pressure levels to allow the push to proceed safely. To compensate for last week’s postponed push, the team will also aim to complete a further 380m push this week.

Programme of Works

The team will remain working on this road until 23/12/2025. They will then return in the new year on 02/01/2026, continuing past the Hospital and progressing into Coldharbour Lane towards Horns Lodge Lane.

Update: 26.11.2025

Gas Mains Replacement – Project Update

This Week’s Works

Our team is progressing with the next phase of the scheme, completing approximately 140 metres of new plastic gas main between Derby Close and Hardwick Road.
Looking Ahead – Week Commencing 1st December, access will become more restricted, particularly past the hospital, where the road begins to narrow.
While the team will do everything possible to minimise disruption, there will be periods where access is heavily restricted, as outlined in the letter residents have already received.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please speak to the team on site—they will be more than happy to help.

Update: 21.11.2025

Gas Mains Replacement – Project Update

Progress This Week

We successfully completed 110 metres of insertion between Knowsley Way and Derby Close.

Planned Works for Next Week

Next week we will begin a further 140 metres of insertion, progressing from Derby Close to Hardwick Road.
On Tuesday 25th, a VAC EX will be on site to support spoil removal and ground excavation. Please be aware that this equipment will block the road for significant periods of the day, which may cause delays.
Throughout the week, we will also be carrying out reinstatement of any outstanding excavations completed during the previous work phase.
Thank you for your continued cooperation while we complete these essential works.

Update: 17.11.2025

Resident Communications

Updates will be posted on our website to keep all residents fully informed. We encourage you to check back frequently for further information.

Update: 17.11.2025

Our team has completed the open-cut section and installed the new booster main supplying the governor. The previously leaking section has now been fully replaced. Reinstatement of this area was carried out over the weekend and has now cured sufficiently.
A support driver will be on site on Monday 17th to remove the fencing and reopen this section of the road. The team will now progress with the insertion works from Knowsley Way to Derby Close.
We will now also be working on the section operating under restricted access hours (09:00–12:00 and 12:30–16:00, Monday to Friday), as outlined in the letters issued to residents of Coldharbour Lane, Derby Close, and Hardwick.

Update: 31.10.2025

Last week, we planned to complete the open-cut section, install the new booster main, and fully reinstate the road. This would have allowed us to remove the current road closure at the junction of Tonbridge Road and move to restricted access hours (09:00–12:00 and 12:30–16:00, Monday to Friday), as detailed in the letters issued to residents of Coldharbour Lane, Derby Close and Hardwick.
However, during our final connection phase to commission the new main, we identified a leak at the governor supplying gas to the whole of Coldharbour Lane. This issue must be resolved before we can safely progress.

Updated Traffic Management

Due to this essential repair, the closure at the junction of Tonbridge Road will need to remain in place until 17.11.2025.
Residents will continue to use Knowsley Way to access Coldharbour Lane for the next two weeks while we carry out the necessary works.
The previously communicated restricted-access schedule will be postponed by two weeks, and an updated letter will be delivered to affected properties.
To support safe access for larger vehicles using Knowsley Way, no-parking notices, cones, and signage will be issued to residents on this road.

Resident Communications

We are actively updating residents through letters, and this page will now be updated every 2–3 days. Please check back regularly for further information.

Thank You
We sincerely apologise for the disruption this project has caused and greatly appreciate the continued patience and cooperation of all residents as we work to complete this essential upgrade to the gas network.