Puxton to Kenn

Current construction activity

Date from

Date to

Activity

July 2021

Late 2023

Connecting Weston-super-Mare to Sandford substation

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

Puxton to Kenn timeline

Early 2021 to mid 2023

 

Modifications to the existing 132,000 volt overhead line to Weston-super-Mare

What we are doing:

  • Building a temporary entrance and access road to allow construction traffic to enter site from the local highway. You can find more information on our construction information page.

  • Building a new connection from Sandford substation to the existing overhead line that goes to Weston-super-Mare. It will be made up of 700m of underground cable and nine new lattice pylons. This is to ensure local electricity supplies are maintained.

  • Removing 1.5 km of the existing overhead line to Weston-super-Mare that runs north-west from Sandford towards Puxton.

 

Early 2021 to mid 2025

 

Build a new 400,000 volt overhead line

What we are doing:

  • Building temporary entrances, crossing points 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 a new overhead line from Sandford substation to Seabank substation (approximately 31.2 km).

  • We will use T-pylons in this area.

Early 2021 to mid 2025

 

Remove the existing 132,000 volt overhead line

What we are doing:

  • Removing existing overhead line from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth.