Overview
National Grid is proposing a new electricity substation within the London Borough of Havering to replace and upgrade our existing Warley substation.
The replacement substation at Warley is needed because the existing substation is coming towards the end of its useful life. In addition, network upgrades and reinforcement are required in the area, and there is demand for new connections to the network. It is National Grid’s legal obligation and responsibility to connect all customers when they request power.
The new substation is also an important step to support the UK’s clean energy and economic growth goals, as National Grid upgrades the existing grid to ensure clean energy can be brought from where it’s generated to where it’s needed by homes and businesses.
A new and upgraded substation at Warley will help to fulfil all these requirements.
Have your say
Before we submit a planning application towards the end of 2026, we are inviting the local community to get involved through a public consultation. Your views will help shape our plans and the positive legacy we hope to leave for the community.
The public consultation on our proposals will run from 21 September to 16 October 2026.
As part of the public consultation, we’re holding two drop in events for the local community:
Where: St Mary Magdalene’s Church, North Ockendon, Upminster, RM14 3QH
When: Saturday 26 Sept 2026, 11:30am-6:30pm
Where: Bulphan Village Hall, Church Road, Essex, RM14 3RU
When: Wednesday 30 Sept 2026, 1:00pm-6:00pm
At these events, we will share details of our proposals and offer you a chance to provide feedback. Please drop in at any point and team members will be available to answer your questions.
Following the drop-in events, we will also be holding an online information event for those unable to make the in-person sessions. This will take place via Zoom on Tuesday 06 October 2026, 5–6pm.
If you would like to register for this event, please email [email protected].
Timeline
| 21 September 2026 | Start of public consultation |
| 26 September 2026 | First public exhibition |
| 30 September 2026 | Second public exhibition |
| 06 October 2026 | Virtual information event |
| 16 October 2026 | End of public consultation |
| Winter 2026 | Application submission |
| Spring 2027 | Application determination |
| Autumn 2028 | Potential construction start date, subject to agreement |
Project map
Our proposed site
After a comprehensive site appraisal process and technical review, our preferred site is immediately adjacent to and south of the existing Warley substation, by the M25 and A127, within the London Borough of Havering.
The new site will be larger in size than the existing substation due to the need to upgrade and reinforce the network and in response to increased local demand.
The site is classified as Green Belt land. Full details on the selection process, including the legally required ‘very special circumstances’ to allow Green Belt development, will be submitted within our planning application.
We are committed to ensuring that the substation design, construction, and operation mitigate any potential impact on the environment and local landscape, and measures to achieve this will be set out in our planning application.
Current project progress
Our project teams have been carrying out initial site surveys to inform the planning process – including environmental, cultural heritage, topographical, noise, and ground investigation surveys.
You may have noticed our teams working in the area at various times. Please be assured all surveying activities are carried out safely and with minimal disruption. Members of the public who have questions about these surveys can get in touch with our community engagement team using the contact details below.
These surveys have been informed by our preliminary ecological assessment and any potential ecological constraints around the site. They enable us to understand more about the local area and will help the development of our proposals.
The results of these surveys have informed the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion Request, which was submitted to London Borough of Havering Council in July 2026 (planning application reference Z0006.26).
We intend to finalise and submit the planning application to London Borough of Havering Council before the end of 2026 via the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA).
A Section 37 Electricity Application will also be submitted to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in relation to the proposed overhead line works associated with the new substation.
Investing in your community
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 energy infrastructure.
If planning approval is granted for the Warley replacement substation, we will deliver a Community Fund of over half a million pounds.
Shaped by the community, this fund will reflect local needs through your input and it will be developed in line with government guidance to deliver a lasting, positive impact.
More information will be made available about the Community Fund later this year.
Electrical substations convert electricity into different voltages so it can be transmitted throughout the country to local homes and, businesses. They play a vital part in effectively transmitting electricity through our national system.
A replacement substation is needed because our existing substation at Warley is coming towards the end of its useful life. In addition, network upgrades and reinforcement are required in the area, and there is demand locally for new connections to the network. It is National Grid’s legal obligation and responsibility to connect all customers when they request power.
The proposed connectors to the Warley replacement substation are currently not finalised, as the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) is reviewing the power connections process.
More information about the connections reform process can be found here: About Connections Reform | National Energy System Operator
We undertook a detailed siting study, and there is a lack of large, suitable sites outside of Green Belt land in the area. Full detail on the selection process, including the ‘very special circumstanc-es’ being presented to justify Green Belt development, will be submitted along with our planning application.
We are committed to delivering at least 10 per cent biodiversity net gain on all our construction projects. Specific projects and work to improve biodiversity may only be decided on and enacted after the planning application is submitted and hopefully approved.
Contact
For more information, please get in touch:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 138 5539 (between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday)
Freepost RTBU-HAYY-LCUX, 7 Bayley Street, London WC1B 3HB (no stamp needed)