Important programme update
Due to a change in our works programme please note closure two is now expected to be completed by Sunday 21 September, two weeks ahead of the originally planned date of 5 October 2025. As a result, the towpath between Old Oak Lane to Scrubs Lane will reopen on Monday 22nd September.
Closure one will now take place between Monday 14 July 2025 to Sunday 27 July 2025 and Monday 8 September 2025 to Monday 15 September 2025.
We have received a request to provide a new connection for a data centre in the Park Royal area near to the Grand Union Canal. Under our license to operate, we have a legal obligation to connect companies to our network when a connection is requested.
We will be providing this new connection between our substations at Willesden and Kensal Green. This will involve replacing 3 km of cable along the Grand Union Canal towpath, using the existing high voltage cable troughs.
Our works programme is divided into two phases. The first phase took place between May 2024 and May 2025, and involved removing existing cables along the Grand Union Canal towpath between Old Oak and Kensal Green. In July 2025, we will conduct a second phase of works to commission and install the new cables. This work is estimated to begin in July 2025 and complete in winter 2025.
We will keep this website regularly updated as the project develops. If you would like any further information or to speak to a member of the community relations team about the works, please visit the contact us page or use the contact details below.
Diversions
Sections of the towpath will need to be closed during this phase to enable our engineers to work safely and efficiently along the canal. Between Monday 14 July and Sunday 26 October, there will be no end-to-end access along the towpath, meaning pedestrians and cyclists will need to follow diversion routes.
There will be three separate diversions in place as part of phase two.
Closure period | Towpath section |
Monday 14 July – Sunday 27 July 2025 Monday 8 September – Monday 15 September 2025 (step-free access diversion only) | Scrubs Lane to Ladbroke Grove
|
Monday 4 August - Sunday 21 September 2025 | Old Oak Lane to Scrubs Lane
|
Monday 6 October - Sunday 26 October 2025 | Barretts Green Road to Old Oak Lane |
Our work
Our contractors, Murphy – a leading international, multi-disciplinary engineering and construction specialist – have been hard at work decommissioning high-voltage cables as part of the first phase of the Willesden and Kensal Green Connection project.
The video below shows the team at work in November removing nearly 3 km of cable from the Grand Union Canal.
Contact us
If you would like any further information or to speak to a member of the community relations team about the works, please use the contact form on our website or via the contact details below.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 093 1678
Our phone lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Any calls received outside of these times will be picked up via answerphone and will be responded to the next working day.