Balfour Beatty has secured a contract from National Grid worth £42 million for the construction of the Little Horsted Electricity Substation Grid Supply Point in East Sussex
Over the next two years, Balfour Beatty will design and build a state-of-the-art 400-kilovolt electricity substation. Two terminal towers will be built that will serve as support structures for the transmission of high-voltage electricity to the Little Horsted Electricity Substation Grid Supply Point.
Once complete, the electricity substation will play a vital role in National Grid’s Little Horsted Connection Project. This initiative aims to enable the connection between UK Power Networks, the local electricity distributor, and the National Grid, thereby improving the electricity supply in East Sussex.
The project will have benefits for the local community
In keeping with Balfour Beatty’s dedication to creating enduring and positive impacts on local communities, they will look to employ a workforce from nearby areas. As part of the construction programme, the company plans to plant around 500 trees, further contributing to its environmental commitments.
The National Grid also began community engagement efforts in 2020, aiming to inform the local residents about the project’s details and the measures taken to minimise disruption. In 2021, a planning application for the project was submitted to the Wealden District Council, the local authority. Following a review, the District Council approved the application, paving the way for the final planning and construction stages of the project.
The electrical substation will bolster UK connectivity
“As one of the leading high voltage electricity substation suppliers in the UK, we are perfectly positioned to deliver the Little Horsted Electricity Substation Grid Supply Point,” said Ian Currie, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission and Distribution business.
“Building on our longstanding and successful relationship with National Grid, this latest contract will see us improve the power supply in East Sussex and help provide the UK with the grid connectivity required to meet increased future demand,” he continued.
The project will begin in early 2024 and is expected to be complete by Autumn 2025. During its peak phase, the project will provide employment opportunities for up to 120 people, including several apprenticeship and graduate positions.
