Essential Refurbishment
Drax to Thornton Overhead Line
Our overhead line running between Drax and Thornton, in Yorkshire, has been operational since 1971. To ensure it remains reliable and keeps homes and businesses in the region supplied with electricity for years to come, some essential refurbishment work is now needed.
Project description
The overhead line runs for 23km across mostly farmland in parts of the East Riding of Yorkshire and Selby District.
The refurbishment work will involve renewing and replacing some of the fixtures, fittings, and steelwork on the existing overhead line, including replacing the conductors (the wires), to ensure the local electricity supply is reliable for generations to come.
The works will be undertaken by our experienced contractor Babcock and our working hours will be 7am-7pm Monday to Sunday. Some essential elements of the work may need to take place outside of these hours, but where this is required, we will advise our neighbours in advance.
Project progress
The work to replace the wires that run between the pylons, as well as some minor work to the pylons themselves, has begun. Over the next few months, our teams will be working on the ground around the pylons, or in the air installing the new wires. We are aiming to complete our work in the area by the end of 2021. When the project is complete, the land will be reinstated in consultation with the landowner.
We will continue to make every effort to ensure the project causes minimal disruption to the area, however in order to complete our work safely, we may have to temporarily close roads or footpaths at certain times. We will keep our neighbours informed regarding further details as the project progresses.
How will these works affect me?
We aim to complete this work with minimal impact on the daily life of our neighbours. Depending on where you live and work, the effects will differ. As many of the pylons we need to access are in relatively remote locations and local roads will stay open, we don’t envisage too many impacts in local communities. Closer to individual homes or industrial areas, we will be in close contact with those residents and businesses who will be potentially affected.
We are in touch with Parish Councils along the route to discuss the refurbishment and will look to see if we can take into account any issues raised in the planning of the works.
If you have any questions or enquiries about our work, please contact us on 0800 319 6165. You can also email us at [email protected].
National Grid's Community Grant Programme
Our Community Grant Programme is aimed at organisations and charities in areas where National Grid’s work impacts on local people through our operations and site activities.
Contact us
If you have any enquiries, please call us on 0800 319 6165 or email us at [email protected].