Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, will begin essential work in Norton, North Yorkshire, on Monday 21 September, replacing ageing metal pipework with new plastic pipes1. The project is expected to take 17 weeks to complete and has been planned in collaboration with North Yorkshire Council1.
Work will start at the junction of Welham Road and Church Street, progressing away from the railway line and up Welham Road to the junction of Lakeside Way1. Engineers will also work on St Nicholas Street, Springfield Garth, Park Road and The Avenue, all part of the planned upgrade1. For the first three weeks a road closure will be in place on Welham Road with a diversion route signposted; temporary multi-way traffic lights will then be installed on Welham Road for the remainder of the work1. NGN states that access will be maintained for residents throughout the project and that shops and businesses will be open as usual1.
Stewart Whitehead, Site Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said:
"We know roadworks can be frustrating, particularly for residents and businesses who rely on these roads every day, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this essential work may cause. We'll do everything we can to complete the project as safely and efficiently as possible, while helping to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply for people in Norton."
NGN describes the work as investment in its pipe network to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area1. The company says its network of pipes delivers gas to 2.9 million properties1. For further information, NGN directs customers to its Customer Care Team on 0800 040 77661. Anyone who smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, a line in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week1.
The announcement comes during Gas Safety Week 2026, which runs from 14 to 20 September, with the theme "Take No Chances"1. NGN notes that appliances which are not regularly serviced can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or gas leaks that could ignite, and that boilers, cookers and fires need the right installation, regular servicing and prompt attention if something does not look or sound right1. The company states that its engineers do not repair appliances or pipework inside the home, but can assess a situation, identify potential hazards and make things safe in a gas emergency1. NGN also points to the free Priority Services Register, which is open to households where someone is medically dependent on energy, of pensionable age, has children under five, lives with a serious illness, mobility issue or mental condition, has a hearing or visual impairment, or has additional communications needs1. Anyone expecting a baby can request to be temporarily added by providing their due date1.
Why it matters for households
The pipework being replaced sits upstream of the meter, so the work is about the condition of the local distribution network rather than anything inside a home. Households on and around Welham Road, St Nicholas Street, Springfield Garth, Park Road and The Avenue can expect access to be maintained, but the three-week closure and the multi-way lights that follow will affect how people and vehicles move through the area for the duration of the 17 weeks1. A gas supply interruption is not stated in the announcement, and no interruption has been reported.
For a household's energy independence, the practical point is continuity of supply: the replacement of ageing metal pipework with plastic pipes is intended to keep the connection to the national supply network safe and reliable1. NGN's role as the local gas distributor, and how it differs from the companies that generate and sell energy, is set out in the site's guide to Northern Gas Networks.
Gas Safety Week falls in the same week as the Norton start date, and NGN's advice covers the parts of a home that the network operator does not touch: annual servicing by a Gas Safe registered engineer, checking the engineer's ID card, keeping vents, flues and air bricks clear, and fitting an audible carbon monoxide alarm1. Warning signs listed by NGN include a lazy yellow or orange flame, black or sooty marks, a pilot light that keeps going out, extra condensation and unusual smells or sounds1. In a suspected gas or carbon monoxide emergency, NGN advises opening doors and windows, turning off the gas at the meter if safe, avoiding flames and electrical switches, leaving the property and calling 0800 111 999 from outside1.
What happens next
Work begins on Monday 21 September, with the road closure on Welham Road in place for the first three weeks, followed by multi-way traffic lights for the remainder of the 17-week project1. Gas Safety Week 2026 runs until 20 September1.
Sources1 cited
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