Nailsea to Tickenham

Current construction activity

Date from

Date to

Activity

June 2021

Late 2024

Access to public footpaths and rights of way

May 2021

2024

Building new T-pylons

October 20212023Removing existing pylons

2018

Ongoing

Roadworks and traffic management

 

Overview – Winter 2023

National Grid started work to build the north section of the Hinkey connection between Sandford and Seabank substations in July 2022.

We’re building 68 new T-pylons between Sandford and Portbury, and 27 traditional lattice pylons in Avonmouth to make the final connection into Seabank substation.

Using the innovative T-pylon design, reduces the height of the new infrastructure by a third. Standing at around 35 metres high – the T-pylon is a third shorter than traditional 400,000 volt steel lattice pylons which stand at around 48 metres. It also has a smaller footprint and uses less land.

To reduce the visual impact of the new 400,000 volt pylons, National Grid is removing 249 existing 132,000 volt lattice pylons, and overhead wires stretching 67 kilometres from the Somerset landscape. 

Thank you from everyone working on the project for your patience and understanding as we progress with this vital work to connect six million homes and businesses to new sources of homegrown, low carbon energy, and help the UK meet its net zero ambitions.

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Take a look at our detailed map

Nailsea to Tickenham timeline

Early 2020 to late 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 underground cable between Nailsea and Portishead substation.

  • Building a pylon to connect the existing overhead line at Nailsea to the new underground cable.

The new underground cable section is being built as a direct result of feedback received during our consultation. When it's operational, it will enable us to completely remove the existing 132,000 volt overhead line between Nailsea and Portishead substation 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 overhead line from Sandford substation to Seabank substation (approximately 31.2 km).

  • We will use T-pylons in this area.

Mid 2021 to mid 2025

 

Remove existing 132,000 volt overhead lines

What we're doing:

  • Removing approximately 9 km of 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 existing overhead line from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth, which will make way for, and minimise the visual impact of, the new connection.