Powering the move to net zero in Oxfordshire
Residents are invited to attend our next community drop-in event:
Thursday 14 May 2026, 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Tesco Superstore Oxford
Unit 7, Oxford Retail Park
Ambassador Avenue
Cowley, Oxford, OX4 6XJ
Members of the project team will be available to discuss the works and answer questions.
If you are unable to attend but would like more information or have any questions, please contact:
0800 980 1395 (Freephone)
LCD@ssen.com
Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm
Since August 2025, our contract partners OCU Group have been carrying out high-voltage cable installations along Grenoble Road and Watlington Road on our behalf, boosting your power supplies by future-proofing the underground cables that carry electricity for homes and businesses in Oxford and the surrounding area.
These works are part of a wider programme of improvements across Oxfordshire to upgrade and futureproof your electricity network. SSEN’s investing over £200 million across your community to support its sustained economic growth, by providing more network capacity, and by further improving reliability. The work we’re doing will help ensure homes, schools, businesses and public services will have the power they need for years to come, to charge electric vehicles (including public transport), run heat pumps, connect solar panels, and support decarbonised business growth.
What we’re doing
The project involves the installation of new high-voltage electricity cables along Grenoble Road and sections of Watlington Road. This will create additional network capacity, improve resilience and help enable new connections, including for clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Since August 2025, Phase 1 works have focused on the western side of the carriageway along Grenoble Road. As of March 2026, this phase has now been completed.
Phase 2 works are now underway and are expected to continue into early 2027. During this stage, works will take place on the eastern side of the carriageway, starting on Watlington Road and continuing along Grenoble Road.
At this stage, we do not anticipate any road closures or access restrictions while these works are carried out. Traffic management, including two-way temporary traffic lights where required, and clear signage will remain in place throughout the project.
As well as installing underground cables along Grenoble Road and Watlington Road, we are also upgrading Cowley Local substation.
Amongst other upgrades, we will be erecting a steel-framed, clad structure on the existing site. Full details of the planning application approved by Oxford City Council in February 2026 can be viewed on the Council’s Planning Portal using reference 26/00093/CPU.
In addition to our project, you may also notice gas utility works along parts of Grenoble Road. These are being carried out by another provider. We appreciate that having different works in the same area can add to disruption, and we thank you for your patience while improvements are completed
Want to check other roadworks? Click here to view planned works across Oxfordshire.
Why this work is needed
Electricity is becoming ever-more important in our daily lives. More of us are using more of it in our homes, workplaces, and for transport. Oxfordshire also is growing fast – with thousands of new homes and jobs planned across the county. At the same time, demand for electricity is rising as we move towards a lower-carbon future.
The works on Grenoble Road form part of a long-term programme to strengthen Oxfordshire’s electricity infrastructure. They support three key priorities:
Supporting and driving sustainable economic growth
Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s fastest-growing regions. These upgrades will help unlock the delivery of new homes, business space and science-led development – all powered by a more modern, even more reliable network.
Decarbonising the network
By connecting more renewable energy and enabling the electrification of transport and heating, this investment will help reduce carbon emissions and support a cleaner, greener future.
Building security, resilience and capacity
Upgrading assets and further expanding capacity will make the local network even more reliable – helping to avoid outages and meet rising energy demand from homes, public services and innovation hubs.
Minimising disruption
We understand that roadworks can be disruptive, especially on a busy route like Grenoble Road.
To minimise the impact:
- Works began during the school summer holidays, when traffic volumes are were lower
- Works are continuing to take place in short, sequential sections to limit traffic management at any one time
- Two-way temporary traffic lights are being used instead of full road closures
- Local access is being maintained wherever possible, with advance notice if driveway access is affected
- We’re coordinating closely with Oxfordshire County Council and other local projects to reduce overlap and delays
- Bus stops may be temporarily relocated and some routes diverted; please check with your operator for updates
- Clear signage remains in place throughout the route
We will continue to keep residents, businesses and commuters updated as the project progresses through 2026 and into early 2027.
Service disruptions
There are no planned Power Supply Interruptions (PSI) scheduled to take place during the works, but anyone who has concerns about vulnerability during power cuts should register for our Priority Services.
Operational hours
The project has been taking place since August 2025, with operatives working Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm.
From March 2026 through to completion in early 2027, our operational hours are changing to seven days a week. Operatives will be working Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm, Saturdays 8:00am-2:00pm and Sundays 9:00am-2:00pm. This will ensure our programme remains on track and that we can carry out the works as efficiently as possible. We will nevertheless continue to keep you updated and informed throughout as we progress.
Working with the community
We are committed to keeping residents and businesses fully informed throughout the project. Since August, our teams have been:
- Door knocking across the local area to speak directly with residents and answer questions
- Holding community drop-in events at the Kassam Stadium, The Leys Pools and Leisure Centre and The Barn, where we had the opportunity to meet residents from across the local community to discuss the project
- Providing regular project updates online through community engagement activity
- Meeting residents and businesses face-to-face to discuss upcoming works and traffic management
We will continue to provide updates throughout 2026 as Phase 2 progresses.
If you have any other ideas about how we can increase our community involvement, please do get in touch.
Creating a positive legacy
Our approach goes beyond delivering essential infrastructure – SSEN and OCU Group work hand-in-hand with the communities we serve to create a positive social impact and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations.
This includes:
- Employment opportunities
- Skills training and apprenticeships
- Educational outreach
- Volunteering in the community
- Collaborating with local charities, organisations and community groups
Contact us at lcd@sse.com to share your thoughts and ideas on how we can work with the local community to deliver a positive social impact.
Stay informed
To keep informed about this project and our works in Oxfordshire, please subscribe here and use the same link that's on the Oxfordshire webpage.
We want to keep local residents informed and make it easy for you to get in touch if you have questions or concerns while the works are underway.
- For project queries, please email: LCD@sse.com
- For general queries or complaints, please contact: 0800 980 1395