Before we can install and operate electricity equipment, such as our proposed converter station, substation, and underground cables, on land that we do not own, we require the rights to do so from the landowner.
If you are an affected landowner or occupier, our land agents, Bell Ingram, will be able to answer any specific questions you have – their contact details are below. We have also set out some of the most commonly asked landowner questions below.
Our Construction best practice for underground cable installation sets out National Grid’s approach to good practice when we carry out work to install, maintain and operate equipment on, over, in, or under land and what you as landowner can expect.
If you’re an affected landowner or occupier, you should have been contacted by our land agents, Bell Ingram, directly. If you haven’t been approached by the team and you think that your land will be directly affected by our project, please contact Bell Ingram on 01845 522095.
Bell Ingram will be in touch will all affected landowners and occupiers shortly to share the project’s latest proposals and commence more detailed discussions regarding the project.
We are proposing to build a 2GW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link. This involves the construction of a new substation and converter station and the installation of underground cables. For the DC underground cables, we require a standard easement width of approximately 20m. Although where Cables cross a road, railway, or other physical obstacle we may require a larger easement width. In the section between the converter station and substation at Hawthorn Pit (AC cables) we will need to run several circuits in close proximity, for this small section the easement requirements will be wider and agreed with the landowners.
Our proposed HVDC link will consist of two electrical cables and a fibre optic cable. These will be installed in a single trench and buried to a target depth of 1.2-1.5 metres.
To minimise disruption at major road crossings, cables may be installed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). In HDD, ducts are installed under the road by drilling, the cables are then pulled through the ducts. This method helps minimise environmental impact and disruption to road users.
These details are still developing and at the moment, we cannot confirm whether or not the cables will be ducted. However, this will be fully considered in the detailed design stages of the consents process when the main contractors are appointed.
Regardless of whether the cables are ducted or not, the cables will be encased within a cement-bound sand backfill, which will give additional mechanical protection.
We are currently in the planning phase of this project and further details of our construction working arrangements will be agreed through the planning application process. However, our normal working hours are typically 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays.
If the project is approved, we will work with an appointed contractor to plan the construction works, and work to minimise any impact on the local community and landowners.
Until the project has a contractor on board, we can only share a very high-level programme. If our project is approved, construction will begin in 2024 and conclude in 2027. The substation and converter station construction will begin first, followed by the underground cables. The substation and converter station will be built at the same time, and we anticipate that the substation will be completed first in 2026 and the converter station in 2027. The underground cable routes will be completed in sections, connecting to both the new substation and converter station.
We cannot confirm further details of the onshore installation programme and remediation at this stage, as these details need full consideration by our installation contractors when appointed. The detailed program will of course take all planning consent requirements and stakeholder views into account, wherever possible. Generally, we will look to reinstate land as soon as possible after installation works have been completed, though it may not be possible to remove haul roads until the completion of works.
