Sandford
Current construction activity
| Date from | Date to | Activity |
| June 2021 | Ongoing | Access to public footpaths and rights of way |
| May 2021 | 2024 | Building new T-pylons |
| April 2020 | 2023 | Sandford substation |
| 2018 | Ongoing | Roadworks and traffic management |
Overview – Autumn 2024
Situated at the heart of the new Hinkley Connection route, the new 400,000 volt substation at Sandford is now fully energised.
High-voltage electricity is now passing through the new Sandford substation, 8.5 kilometres of underground cables through the Mendip Hills National Landscape and T-pylons between Bridgwater and Loxton.
In the same area, work has completed to modify the existing 132,000 volt line from Weston-super-Mare to the new substation, providing greater network resilience in the South West following the removal of 67 kilometres of 132,000 volt overhead lines. In total, 249 pylons have been taken down from the Somerset landscape, leaving part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape pylon free for the first time in nearly a century.
The construction of the 68 new T-pylons between running north from Sandford substation to Portbury, including the hanging of the wires was completed in March 2024. Connection of the T-pylons into Sandford substation and energisation of this section of the new overhead line is planned to take place in 2025.
Work is ongoing to remove temporary haul roads, road accesses, bridges and culverts that were built to construct the underground cables and T-pylons in the area and reinstate the land. The access road off Towerhead Road for Sandford substation is permanent. A grasscrete surface is being used here, which allows for grass to grow through and reduce any visual impact. There will be works to reduce the size of the access point from the public highway.
The Strawberry Line: The Sandford Link
The Strawberry Line Sandford Link built as part of National Grid's construction of Sandford substation was officially opened in November 2023 and is in full use. It provides a new and safer route for runners, walkers, and cyclists.
Thank you from everyone working on the project for your patience and understanding as we progress with this important 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.
Sandford timeline
April 2020 to late 2023
Build Sandford substation
What we're doing:
- Advance planting and landscaping.
- Installing a temporary construction compound adjacent to the site of the new substation.
- Building a new substation, just north of the A368, in order to maintain local electricity supplies in the area.
Early 2021 to mid 2023
Modifications to the existing 132,000 volt overhead line to Weston-super-Mare
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.
- Installing a temporary construction compound north of Sandford substation.
- 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 near Puxton.
Late 2021 to late 2023
Modifications to the existing 132,000 volt overhead line to Churchill
What we're doing:
- Building a new overhead line using wooden poles (285m) from Sandford substation to the existing overhead line that goes to Churchill, to ensure local electricity supplies are maintained.
- Removing approximately 550m of the existing overhead (lattice pylons) to the south Sandford substation.
Early 2021 to mid 2024
Build a new 400,000 volt overhead line
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 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 existing 132,000 volt overhead line
What we're doing:
- Removing existing overhead line from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth.