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Overview

In Spring 2020 we embarked upon a £1 billion project to rewire South London via deep underground tunnels. In total, 32.5km of 3m diameter tunnels are being constructed deep below the road network between Wimbledon and Crayford, which will carry high voltage electricity cables.

UK Power Networks, the electricity distribution company that distributes electricity across London, requires National Grid to build a new connection to its high-voltage electricity transmission network, which we have a legal obligation to provide.

To achieve this, we are building a substation and headhouse within UK Power Network’s existing substation site boundary at Bengeworth Road, to connect to our London Power Tunnels (LPT) route.

By doing this work now as part of the tunnelling project, overall disruption will be minimised in the future as UK Power Networks will not need to replace their existing cables which currently run beneath the local road network.

Construction of the shaft was completed in May 2022, with the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) passing from New Cross to Bengeworth Road in Summer 2022. As of early 2024, we are progressing with the construction of the headhouse and substation. 

The LPT project, designed to bolster London's electricity network in response to increasing demand and support a net-zero future, is set to be fully operational by 2026.
 

Key facts

• Dimensions: The shaft is approximately 15m in diameter and 32m in depth. The headhouse will have a maximum footprint of 22m long by 13m wide, reaching a maximum height of 10m. The substation will have a maximum footprint of 49m long by 24m wide, reaching a maximum height of 15m.
• Access: We have secured a traffic diversion route through Kings College Hospital to significantly reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) movements on residential roads.
• Traffic: There is currently no increase in traffic expected on site. All construction vehicles entering and leaving the site will do so at peak times. Only vehicles notified in advance will be allowed on to site. All construction and managerial parking will be provided onsite to avoid any queuing or parking on residential streets.
• Working hours: Our current working hours are:
  • Monday – Friday: 8am to 6pm
  • Saturday: 8am to 1pm
     

Timeline

• December 2020 – January 2021 – Three public engagement events held with local residents
• August 2021 – May 2022 – Shaft construction works
• February 2022 – Engagement with local residents on substation and headhouse design
• Summer 2022 – TBM breakthrough from New Cross site
• Autumn 2023 – Tunnel boring completed along entire route of project
• Winter 2022 – 2025 – Substation and headhouse construction
• 2026 – Project expected to be fully operational 
   

Address

Our Bengeworth Road site is located at Bengeworth Road, London SE5 9AE.
 

Community involvement

National Grid is committed to working with and supporting the local communities around its project sites. To support communities around the LPT project, National Grid and our partners are delivering:

• Outreach programme: An engaging and impactful outreach programme for secondary school students in the local area, promoting engineering careers for our net zero future.
• Community Grant Programme: Provision of financial support for local projects via our Community Grant Programme.
• Volunteer days: Hands-on support provided by the project team via volunteer days conducted in the community.

In November 2023, we published a Social Impact Report for the LPT school outreach programme, which illustrates the social benefits the programme has delivered for young people across South London. Working alongside early-talent specialists, Connectr, we have supported over 100,000 young people during the initial three and half years of the programme – achieving our ambition of engaging over 100,000 students before 2025.

Read the full Social Impact Report
 

Community relations

We are committed to keeping the local community informed about our plans. Over December 2020 and January 2021, we held three public engagement events with local residents.

Following this, we set up a Community Liaison Group (CLG) to work closely with residents and provide them with an opportunity to have any questions answered by the project team. Throughout 2021-2023, we held a number of CLG meetings to make sure neighbours and stakeholders are kept up-to-date with our progress.

You can access all presentations and minutes from previous events and meetings below.