National Grid invites local feedback on plans to power millions of homes and businesses with cleaner energy from more affordable sources

• Public consultation launched on Cross Border Connection, a major new electricity project in Cumbria
• Part of The Great Grid Upgrade, which is growing the UK’s electricity network
• Plans include a new overhead power line and substation in the Carlisle area to meet rising energy demand and deliver cleaner electricity from more affordable sources
• Expected to deliver millions of pounds in community benefits and support local jobs
• Eight-week public consultation runs from 15 October to 10 December 2025

National Grid has launched a public consultation on early plans for the Cross Border Connection, part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the biggest investment in the UK’s electricity network for generations. The project will help carry cleaner, home-grown energy from more affordable sources between Scotland and the north of England, and will support rising electricity demand.

The project includes a new overhead electricity line and a new substation in the Carlisle area. The proposed line would run from the England–Scotland border near Kershopefoot to the new substation, with two possible sites under consideration, one to the north of the city near Harker, and one to the south.

The need for the Cross Border Connection was identified by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), because more grid capacity is urgently needed between England and Scotland to transport cleaner electricity from sources like onshore and offshore wind. Electricity demand is set to grow by 50% over the next decade, including in Cumbria, and this project will help deliver home-grown power to homes, business and public services across the region and beyond.

If approved, the Cross Border Connection would carry up to 6.9GW of electricity – enough to power around six million homes. By strengthening the network, the project will support the UK’s shift away from imported fossil fuels, improve energy security and help boost Cumbria’s economy by attracting clean industries and investment in skills and local jobs.

Two route options under consideration

• Option A would end at a new substation north of Carlisle, near the existing Harker substation. This route would involve approximately 28km of new overhead line.
• Option B would end at a new substation south of Carlisle, with a longer route of approximately 47km. This route would cross Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site just north of the River Eden, where the wall survives as underground remains.

In both areas, the landscape already includes existing power lines, roads and other modern infrastructure. National Grid is committed to minimising impact on heritage sites and will work closely with experts and local communities throughout the consultation.

The Scottish section of the project, from the proposed Gala North Substation to the border is being developed and consulted on separately by SP Energy Networks.

The final route and substation location will be shaped by community feedback, environmental assessments and technical studies. The project is expected to deliver millions of pounds in community benefit funding for areas hosting new infrastructure, and we will be working with wildlife experts to enhance nature along the route and with heritage organisations to respect important landscapes.

Angela Hosford, Project Director for Cross Border Connection at National Grid, said:

This is an important project for the region and for the country. Electricity demand is set to grow by around 50% over the next decade including here in Cumbria, and this project will help bring cleaner, secure, home-grown energy from more affordable sources onto the grid and deliver it to where it’s needed most.

We’re at an early stage in the design process, and the feedback we receive during this consultation will play a crucial role in shaping how we move forward. We’re committed to listening and working with communities every step of the way.

Public invited to have their say

The consultation runs for eight weeks, from 15 October to 10 December 2025, and will include:

• Six in-person community events

• Four live webinars

• More than 11,000 newsletters delivered to local homes and businesses

Community members are encouraged to take part online, attend an event, or contact the project team directly to ask questions and provide feedback.

Contact details

Phone: 0800 358 1781 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, with an answerphone taking messages outside these times)

Email: [email protected]

Freepost: FREEPOST NATIONAL GRID CBC

Web address: nationalgrid.com/cbc

In-person events and webinars

What happens next?
Following the consultation, National Grid will analyse the feedback and use it to refine project proposals. There will be a further consultation, ahead of a planning application in 2028 under the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.

If approved, construction could begin in 2030, with the Cross Border Connection expected to be operational by 2033.