Sandford
Situated at the heart of the Hinkley Connection route, the new 400,000-volt substation at Sandford is now fully operational. Electricity is flowing through 8.5 km of underground cables beneath the Mendip Hills and along new T-pylons between Bridgwater and Loxton.
In total, 249 pylons and 67 km of overhead lines have been removed, making part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape pylon-free for the first time in nearly a century. Works are now in the final stages as we prepare to connect the substation to the northern section of the line.
This is part of the Hinkley Connection Project, a significant investment in the region’s electricity network. The project aims to connect new sources of low-carbon energy to homes and businesses to the new Hinkley Point C power station in Somerset.
The Strawberry Line: The Sandford Link
The Strawberry Line Sandford Link, built as part of National Grid’s construction of the Sandford substation, officially opened in November 2023 and is now fully in use. It offers a safer, dedicated route for runners, walkers, and cyclists.
Upcoming construction works
- Connecting T-pylons to Sandford substation: Work is planned at Sandford to connect the substation to the 400kV electricity line running north to Seabank substation in Avonmouth. This is currently expected to take place in 2025, though timings are subject to change.
- New access road: An access road will be constructed off Towerhead Road to provide access to the Sandford substation. This will be grasscrete, a form of sustainable concrete paving that is designed to have grass growing in and on its surface. Work is scheduled to continue throughout 2025.
You might see more construction vehicles on local roads, and some construction activity along Towerhead Road. We will keep you updated about any traffic management changes in advance.
Sandford Timeline
Completed Mid–Late 2023
Modifications to the existing 132,000-volt overhead line to Weston-super-Mare
Work included:
- Building temporary entrances and access roads to allow construction traffic to enter the site from the local highway.
- Installing a temporary construction compound north of Sandford substation.
- Building a new connection from Sandford substation to the existing overhead line to Weston-super-Mare. This work included 700 metres of underground cable and nine new lattice pylons.
- Removing 1.5 km of overhead line from the route between Sandford and Weston-super-Mare.
Construction of Sandford Substation
Work included:
- Planting and landscaping.
- Installing a temporary construction compound next to the site of the new substation.
- Building a new substation, just north of the A368, to help maintain a reliable electricity supply in the local area.
Modifications to the existing 132,000-volt overhead line to Churchill
Work included:
- Building a 285-metre overhead line using wooden poles from Sandford substation to the existing line towards Churchill.
- Removing around 550 metres of overhead line from the lattice pylons to the south of Sandford substation, making way for the new connection.
Completed Mid 2024
Building the new 400,000-volt overhead line
Work included:
- Building temporary entrances and access roads to allow construction vehicles to safely enter the site from local roads.
- Constructing a new overhead line from Sandford substation to Seabank substation, covering approximately 31.2 km.
- Installing T-pylons along this section of the overhead line route.
Completed Early 2025
Removal of the existing 132,000-volt overhead line
Work included:
- Removing the existing overhead line between the A368 in Sandford and Avonmouth.
- Removing the existing overhead line between the A368 in Sandford and Avonmouth.
2025 to late 2026
Work taking place:
- Connection work to link the T-pylons to Sandford Substation. Expected to take place in 2025.
- Construction of a new grasscrete access road off Towerhead Road. Work is ongoing throughout 2025.
Thank you
Thank you from everyone working on the project for your patience and understanding as we work to toward completion. This project will play a key role in helping the UK meet its net zero ambitions by transmitting cleaner, homegrown, energy around the UK – enough to power six million homes and businesses.
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