Birkhill Wood 400 kV Substation (new substation)
Project Description
We need to connect new sources of home grown electricity to the national grid. To do that, a new substation is needed. It’s not possible to connect everything proposed in the area to the existing infrastructure.
The proposed site for the new Birkhill Wood Substation is approximately 700 metres to the north of the existing Creyke Beck Substation. The site was chosen considering the existing overhead line routes and the proposed North Humber to High Marnham grid upgrade.
We are proposing a Gas Insulated Substation (GIS), where most of the equipment is housed within a single building. It has a smaller footprint overall than an Air Insulated Substation (AIS). An AIS solution was not feasible due to site constraints at the shortlisted locations.
A planning application has been submitted to East Riding Council in June 2025 and (reference 25/01898/STPLF) and a decision is awaited.
Figure 3 below provides an illustration of the current proposed layout and design.
To reconfigure the overhead line into Birkhill Wood substation we need to install 2 additional pylons. The pylons will have an approximate height of 40 metres. They will be installed on the alignment of the existing overhead line that runs adjacent the Birkhill Wood site.
Some temporary masts will be installed to provide a temporary bypass of the existing overhead line. We have applied to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for permission for the diversion. When National Grid plans to build a short run of electricity pylons, less than 2 km long, it needs to get permission from the Secretary of State. This process – via the Electricity Act 1989 – is separate from the development consent order and the town and country planning act processes. The application will be considered by DESNZ alongside the Compulsory Purchase Order.
Compulsory Purchase Order
On 13 November 2025 NGET made the National Grid Electricity Transmission (Birkhill Wood Substation Project) Compulsory Purchase Order 2025 (the "CPO") to enable us to compulsorily acquire the land and rights necessary for the construction and operation of the Birkhill Wood 400kV Substation, and the extension of the new access road from the A1079 to the existing Creyke Beck Substation.
We are continuing to engage with all known affected landowners and, where required, the occupiers, to discuss the required rights and proposals to deliver the project. We will continue to negotiate in a collaborative and positive manner to conclude a voluntary agreement. Where we have a completed agreement in place, we do not expect to need to rely on the CPO. Our preference will always be to secure land rights on the basis of voluntary agreement with affected landowners/occupiers.
Documents relating to the CPO may be found in the Documents Library below. The period for objections to be submitted in respect of the making of the CPO ended on 16 December 2025.
Further detail on the compulsory purchase process can be found in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Guidance on the Compulsory Purchase Process (October 2024), which is available to view and download for free online.
If you'd like more information about the CPO, please contact National Grid's appointed land agent Dalcour Maclaren using the contact details below:
Telephone: 0333 188 5374
Postal: Land Assembly Team, Dalcour Maclaren, 1 Staplehurst Farm, Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire, OX25 3QU.
Document Library
CPO and related documents
If your enquiry relates to the CPO process, please contact Dalcour Maclaren using the contact details below:
Telephone: 0333 188 5374
Postal: Land Assembly Team, Dalcour Maclaren, 1 Staplehurst Farm, Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire, OX25 3QU
If you have a more general query regarding the project, contact us using the details below:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 08083 040658 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm)
Postal: Freepost CREYKE BECK SUBSTATION (please write this in capitals, no stamp or further address details are required)