We are planning essential upgrades to Blyth Substation to connect new customers to our electricity network and meet future energy demand. To do this, we will extend the existing substation and build a new substation nearby. This investment will connect wind power generated in the North Sea and a major new development in the area, the Cambois data centre campus.
As a regulated business, we have a legal obligation to connect customers to the network when requested.
Upgrading Blyth Substation is an important part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. This project will connect homes, businesses and public services in the North East to more secure, cleaner, and home-grown energy from more affordable sources.
Data centres are critical national infrastructure. They support cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, financial services, healthcare, education and public services. As demand from data centres and digital infrastructure grows, The Great Grid Upgrade is strengthening the grid to help power possibilities for customers, communities and the wider economy.
Blyth Substation is located just south of the former Blyth Power Station on Taranis Street, between Cambois and East Sleekburn.
Proposed site boundary
Planning and consents
The Blyth Substation project is being delivered in two phases. Planning consent has now been secured for the first phase of the project, and we expect to submit one further application for the second phase in 2027.
Phase one – Extension of the existing substation
Phase one involves extending the current Blyth Substation to meet initial customer connection dates.
Following the submission of an Environmental Screening (EIA) Request to Northumberland County Council in March 2026, the Council confirmed the proposed works for phase one do not constitute EIA development, meaning a full EIA is not required for this element of the project.
Current status
In July 2026, we submitted a planning application to Northumberland County Council for a small number of elements associated with phase one of the project that fall outside our permitted development rights, including the perimeter fencing and portable relay room. This application was approved in October 2026.
The details of this are shown in the table below and the full decisions can be viewed on Northumberland County Council's planning portal by searching for 26/02791/FUL, 26/02700/PA and 26/02633/REG. Construction for this phase is planned to commence in winter 2026/27.
In September 2026, Northumberland County Council also confirmed that the majority of the phase one works can proceed under permitted development rights provided through the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2025.
For further detail on which elements we have permission for, please refer to the table below.
| Construction activity that can be carried out under permitted development rights | Construction activity requiring planning permission |
Under permitted development rights, certain construction activities can carried out without the need for a full planning application. This includes:
| We have secured consent for a small number of elements that fall outside our permitted development rights. This includes:
|
Phase two – Construction of a new substation
Phase two will see a new substation built nearby. This will provide the additional long-term capacity needed to meet future electricity demand and connect new developments as the region continues to grow.
We are developing our proposals and will share more information with the local community early next year. As part of this process, and before a planning application is submitted, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request will be made to Northumberland County Council for phase two of the project.
Stay informed
We will keep you updated as the project develops:
- Newsletter – subscribe to our newsletter for project updates and community news. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- Website – we will update this page regularly so please check for updates.
You can also contact our community relations team directly on:
- [email protected]
- 0800 130 3711 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm)
We are committed to protecting your personal data. To learn more about how we handle and store your information, please see our privacy policy to learn more.
Survey works
We are currently carrying out ecological surveys on land near the existing substation, which have been ongoing since April 2025 and are expected to continue. Ground investigation surveys are also planned but have not yet started.
These surveys help us better understand ground conditions and the local environment so we can finalise our plans. Ground investigation work may include taking small soil samples or drilling boreholes, while ecological surveys involve assessing local habitats and monitoring wildlife such as birds, bats and reptiles.
You may see our specialist contractors working in the area. We will keep disruption to a minimum and ensure land is returned to its previous condition once surveys are complete.
If you have any questions, please contact the project team:
- [email protected]
- Call 0800 130 3711 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm)
Project timelines
Our investment in communities
Communities are at the heart of the UK’s transition to more secure, cleaner, home-grown energy from more affordable sources. We have a long-standing commitment to the communities we work alongside, and we want to ensure lasting benefits for the people and places that host new infrastructure.
A dedicated Community Fund will be unlocked if the project receives consent and when construction starts.
This fund will be shaped by the community, for the community, and developed in line with government guidance, these funds are designed to reflect local need and support projects that benefit local people.
Before launching the fund, we will work with residents, charities, community groups and elected representatives to understand what matters most and how the funding can make a lasting and positive impact.
Project documents
Case studies
Coming together to clean up Cambois Beach
Members of our team joined local volunteers and partner organisations at Cambois Beach in August 2026 to help tackle plastic pollution along the North East coastline.
Frequently Asked Questions
This project involves extending the existing Blyth Substation and constructing a new substation nearby. It forms part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. The programme is strengthening the UK’s electricity network so it can deliver more secure, cleaner, home-grown energy to homes, businesses and public services.
Demand for electricity is rising, and the existing substation no longer has sufficient capacity. As a regulated business, we have a legal obligation to connect customers to the network when requested. Upgrading the substation ensures the network can meet current and future needs.
Yes. The existing substation will remain in use and will be extended during phase one. The new substation will then be built nearby to provide long term capacity and resilience.
The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. It comprises major infrastructure projects designed to scale up the grid, including our work in Blyth.
Delivering The Great Grid Upgrade will enable us to carry more clean, secure energy from where it is generated – like out in the sea by wind turbines – to where it is needed, boosting energy security and helping the nation become more self-sufficient.
At the same time, this work will also support the growth of artificial intelligence and digital industries. Data centres are critical national infrastructure. They support cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, financial services, healthcare, education and public services. As demand from data centres and digital infrastructure grows, The Great Grid Upgrade is strengthening the grid to help power possibilities for customers, communities and the wider economy.
NGET owns, operates and maintains the high voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. It is responsible for transporting electricity from where it is generated to local distribution networks, businesses and homes.
As part of this role, NGET is developing proposals for the Blyth Substation project to help ensure the electricity network can meet future demand and support economic growth in the region.
Yes. Both phases require permission from Northumberland County Council under the Town and Country Planning Act.
Phase one of the project is mostly being delivered through our permitted development rights.
A planning application was submitted to Northumberland County Council for a small number of elements that fall outside these rights. This planning application secured consent from the Council in October 2027.
A separate planning application will be submitted for phase two of the project.
Permitted Development Rights are a type of planning permission granted by the Government through national legislation. They allow certain types of development to take place without the need for a full planning application under the Town and Country Planning Act.
For the Blyth Substation project, some of the phase one works can be delivered using Permitted Development Rights, while a small number of elements required a separate planning application and approval from Northumberland County Council.
Yes, we will carry out a consultation for phase two of the proposals. As the project progresses, we will provide clear updates and offer a range of ways for people to get involved in the consultation for phase two, so everyone who wants to have their say is able to do so.
The phase one planning application covered only a small part of the overall first phase of the project. Given the limited scope of these works, a separate public consultation was not considered necessary. However, we were keen to ensure that local communities were kept informed and issued a newsletter to more than 1,000 addresses surrounding the site, providing information about how to view the planning application on Northumberland County Council’s website and make comments. The newsletter is also available to view on this website.
We are carrying out detailed ecology surveys to understand local habitats and species. This helps us design the project to minimise environmental impacts and ensures we meet all regulatory requirements. These surveys are now underway.
Timelines are indicative and depend on planning permission. The phase one extension is expected to complete in 2028. Further information on phase two timelines will be shared in due course.
Subject to securing consent and at the point in which construction starts, a Community Fund will be available for the project. We will work with local people to shape how this funding can be used to support the community and local causes with lasting benefits.
By increasing network capacity, the project will connect wind energy to the grid, while also providing the electricity infrastructure needed to support future demand from the Cambois data centre campus. This will help unlock investment, support skilled jobs and strengthen the North East's ambitions for clean energy, economic growth and digital innovation.
Updates will be shared regularly on this webpage. You can also contact us directly at: [email protected] or on our Freephone: 0800 130 3711.