Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the project.
About Willesden and Kensal Green Connection project
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 have removed the existing cables along the Grand Union Canal towpath between Old Oak and Kensal Green, and will be laying 3 km of new 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 of works involves the removal of the existing cables from the towpath. This started in May 2024 and is set to finish in May 2025. After this, 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.
The first phase of works focused on removing the existing cables from the Grand Union Canal towpath. This phase began in 2024 and is estimated to run until May 2025.
These works include the decommissioning and removal of the existing 275kv cable between Kensal Substation and Willesden Substation. During this phase, we are also removing any damaged cable troughs, redundant link boxes and bridge foundations, and installing new fibre ducts and chambers to enable to installation of cable during phase two.
During these works, we installed pontoons to enable pedestrians and cyclists to continue using the towpath.
The second phase of works will involve installing new cables along the canal towpath. This phase is estimated to begin in July 2025 and complete in winter 2025.
These works will see the installation of new link boxes, fibre cables, and joint bays to run the cable along the canal. Our teams will also be planting new hedgerows along the towpath during this phase.
To enable our engineers to work safely and efficiently along the canal, sections of the towpath will need to be closed and will be carried out in phases. The associated diversions and closures will be communicated in advance of works commencing in summer.
The works will be funded by National Grid and the new data centre operator. They will not come at a cost to the taxpayer.
Local information
Works during the second phase of the project will take place in three stages, necessitating closures over the duration of works. The first closure along the towpath will be from Kensal Green substation to Kensal Rise Association of Boaters. The second closure will be from the Kensal Rise Association of Boaters to The Collective Old Oak. The third and final closure along the towpath will take place from The Collective Old Oak to Barratts Green Road. We will share maps outlining these closures, and their associated diversion routes, on our website ahead of phase two works.
Sections of the towpath will need to be closed to enable our engineers to work safely and efficiently along the canal. During works, there will be no end to end access along the towpath, meaning pedestrians and cyclists will need to follow a diversion route where they would usually use the towpath.
Whilst we installed pontoons for the works that took place during phase one, this is not viable during the second phase of works. The installation of new cables is a ‘rolling process’ rather than static, meaning lengthy sections of the Grand Union Canal towpath need to be closed to enable cable installation. Due to the length of sections needed to be closed during cable installation works, erecting pontoons is not feasible as this would hinder continued access to the canal for barges.
The project team has carefully considered all possible alternatives to closures and diversions. Our strong preference was to avoid closures altogether given the disruption to the public, and we have explored all options of removing the existing cables that would avoid towpath closures by using pontoons. Unfortunately, as the installation of new cables will be a rolling process, lengthy sections of the towpath will need to be closed to avoid any health and safety risks, incurring diversions.
Coordinating with the community
In December 2023, we held a series of drop-in events across four separate locations including Willesden Junction, Kensal Green and Harlesden Underground Stations, as well on the Grand Union Canal itself, near to The Collective Old Oak, to inform the local community about our phase one works. These events provided an opportunity for us to talk to the local community, understand their concerns and answer any questions that were raised.
Ahead of phase two works we will be holding a series of pop-up events along sections of the Grand Union Canal towpath, as well as a community drop-in event and public webinar. Further information regarding these events as well as the link to register for the webinar can be found here.
We have regularly consulted both the Canal River Trust and Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation about the works, holding briefing sessions with our project and community engagement teams. In addition to this, we have briefed local ward councillors, local boroughs, Transport for London and additional community groups and stakeholders to make them aware of the upcoming works.
As part of the agreed project works, we have liaised with CRT to secure funding for specific investments along the towpath. This funding will be allocated to different sections of the towpath and treated on a case-by-case basis, working in partnership with CRT. This also includes our Community Grant Programme.
The Community Grant Programme is run by the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) business. We own and maintain the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. The programme is aimed at community organisations and charities in areas where our work is impacting local people through our operations and construction activities.
Communities impacted by the maintenance of existing infrastructure (e.g. refurbishment of overhead lines or substations resulting in road closures and other impacts) can apply for grants of up to £10,000.
More information is available at www.nationalgrid.com/responsibility/community/community-grant-programme.