Overview

The North West London Upgrade is a major investment into the electricity infrastructure running between Sundon in Bedfordshire and St John’s Wood in London.  

The project will help make the network more resilient, support growing demand for electricity, and ensure homes, businesses and public services have the power they need now and in the future.

North West London Upgrade route map
 

Image

North West London Upgrade at a glance

• Includes a new substation, new cables, as well as upgrades to existing substations and overhead lines.
• Supports growing demand for electricity in London and the surrounding areas.
• Work will be delivered in stages up to 2030.
• Local pages will be updated with more information about work in each area.  Find out more on the 'what's happening and why?' page of this website.

Why is it needed?

The UK is using more electricity as we move to cleaner energy and rely more on electricity for heating, transport and everyday life. Around London, there is also growing demand from new digital services, including data centres.

We need to upgrade the electricity network so it can keep up with demand and continue to provide safe, reliable power.

Project team

As this is a complex project, we are working with a number of partners, including Laing O’Rourke, Hochtief-Murphy Joint Venture (HMJV) and Hitachi. 

Engaging with local communities

Keeping communities informed and listening to local concerns will be a crucial part of how we deliver NWLU. We recognise that living or working near construction can raise questions, and we are committed to being open, accessible and responsive throughout.

Throughout the duration of the work, we will be engaging with local communities and elected members to share information and understand local views.

We will also continue to keep this website updated with key information on the work taking place as the project progresses.  More information can be found on the ‘what’s happening and why’ page.

If you have a question or concern about work in your area, please get in touch via the details listed in the ‘contact us’ box below.
 

Community Fund

We are committed to leaving a positive legacy in the communities we operate in.

There are a number of ways we will be looking to make a difference in the communities along the project route which may be impacted by our work.

In line with government guidance, the community around the new Letchmore Heath substation will be eligible for £530,000 to be spent on projects that will improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the community and deliver benefits that endure over the long term.  We will be engaging with local stakeholders and residents on the Community Fund in due course.
 

Latest project updates

All updates are available on our ‘what’s happening and why’ pages, where you can find site-specific information about work taking place near you. You can also visit our FAQs for more information about the project and what to expect as work progresses.