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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.

We are currently constructing a headhouse on site to cover the shaft and provide ventilation and access to the tunnel once it has been finalised.

Construction of the shaft was completed on the site, and the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) passed from Hurst to Crayford in February 2023. As of early 2024, we are progressing with the construction of our 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 will be approximately 15m in diameter and 35m in depth. The headhouse will have a maximum footprint of 9.5m long by 6m wide, reaching a maximum height of 4.6m.
• Access: We are currently accessing the site via Stadium Way and through the Ladbrokes dog track, to minimise impact to the public using the footpath next to the site.
• Traffic: There is a low volume of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) movements in the current period of works, approximately 4 per week during headhouse construction.
• Working hours: Our current working hours are:
  • Monday – Saturday: 8am to 6pm
  • Our working hours are permitted under our agreement with Bexley Council.

Timeline

• July 2021 – Digging of the shaft began
• February 2023 – TBM breakthrough from Hurst site
• Autumn 2023 – Tunnel boring completed along entire route of project
• Late 2023 – Headhouse construction began
• 2026 – Project expected to be fully operational

Address

Our site at Crayford is located on Crayford Meadows in the London Borough of Bexley, to the south of the Crayford Greyhound Track and next to the Crayford terminal tower.

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.

You can read the full Social Impact Report by clicking here.