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Tickenham to Portishead
Current construction activity
Date from | Date to | Activity |
June 2021 | Late 2024 | |
May 2021 | 2024 | |
January 2020 | September 2021 | |
2018 | 2025 | |
2018 | Ongoing |
Overview – Winter 2022
In May 2021, National Grid started work to build the new 400,000 volt overhead connection along the northern section of the Hinkley Connection Project between Sandford and Seabank substations. We are using the world’s first T-pylons for part of the route.
Our contractor, J Murphy and Sons, energised the new underground cables between the west end of Nailsea and Portishead substation in September 2021. This new 132,000 volt underground connection was installed to replace the line Western Power Distribution (WPD) pylons removed from near homes and gardens in October 2021. The aim is to lessen the visual impact of the new 400kV overhead line, featuring T-pylons that will run to the west of Nailsea.
During 2023, we’ll remove the second line of WPD pylons that runs from Sandford to Avonmouth, bringing us a step closer to removing 67 kilometres of WPD’s overhead line by the time the Hinkley Connection Project is completed in 2025.
In spring 2022, our contractors will re-start work in Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve to make changes to WPD’s substation, replace pylons to the east of the substation with underground cables and build the new two new T-pylons in the reserve. Our main construction activities in the nature reserve are timed to avoid disturbance to wintering birds and other wildlife.
We recognise that our construction activity impacts local communities and work with our contractors to limit that as much as possible.
Contact our community relations team to register for project updates direct to your inbox.
Projects timeline
Early 2020 to mid 2021
Underground the 132,000 volt overhead line between Nailsea and Portishead Substation
What we're doing:
Building temporary entrances and access roads to allow construction traffic to enter site from the local highway. You can find more information on our construction information page.
Building temporary construction compounds.
Building a 132,000 volt underground cable between Nailsea and Portishead Substation.
Building a new CSE pylon to connect the existing overhead line at Nailsea to the new underground cables.
This new underground cable section is being built as a direct result of feedback received during our consultation. It will enable us to completely remove the existing 132,000 volt overhead line that currently runs very close to people’s properties.
Mid 2021 to mid 2025
Build new 400,000 volt overhead line
What we're doing:
In this area, to minimise disruption, we will be sharing temporary construction compounds, and temporary entrances and access roads built for other elements of the build.
Building a new 400,000 volt overhead line from Sandford Substation to Seabank Substation (approximately 31.2km).
We will use T-pylons in this area.
Mid 2021 to mid 2025
Remove existing 132,000 volt overhead line
What we're doing:
Removing approximately 9 km of Western Power Distribution’s (WPDs) existing overhead line between Nailsea and Portishead substation that currently runs very close to people’s properties. We are removing this as a direct result of feedback received during our consultation.
Removing WPDs overhead line from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth, which will make way for, and minimise the visual impact of the new connection.
Early 2021 to mid 2025
Modify Portishead Substation and the overhead line to the east of the substation
What we're doing:
Making changes to the inside of Portishead Substation to enable the connection of the new 132,000 volt underground cable from Nailsea.
Building a temporary construction compound to the east of the substation.
Building temporary entrances and access roads to allow construction traffic to enter the undergrounding site from the local highway. You can find more information on our construction information page.
Removing a section of 132,000 volt overhead line to the east of the substation and replacing it with underground cable. This will enable the 400,000 volt overhead line to pass safely overhead.
Installing a Cable Sealing End (CSE) pylon to connect the new underground cable to the existing overhead line.
This work will be done on our behalf by WPD.