We're making an investment of around £100m to future-proof and strengthen the electricity distribution network for more than 140 thousand customers in Swindon and the surrounding area.
With work now underway, the programme of works we're delivering with our partners OCU Group, will ensure Swindon's has the necessary additional capacity and resilience to power homes, businesses and public services long into the future. This will also mean more use of cleaner, greener energy which will help drive sustainable economic growth.
To be carried out between now and the turn of the decade, the programme of works will support homes and businesses in the following key areas:
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Supporting and driving sustainable economic growth
Futureproofing the area’s network ensures it can support new innovation, technology and jobs. -
Accelerating decarbonisation
Aligning with regional and national sustainability targets, this investment will help enable the connection of more low-carbon technologies like EV chargers and heat pumps. It will also support new renewable community and smaller-scale generation like solar and battery storage to provide more clean, green power for local use. A separate SSEN Distribution pilot project which can inform residents if the electricity supply into their property needs an upgrade to support low-carbon tech began last autumn. -
Building more security, resilience and capacity in the network
This upgrade of the local system will mean that tens of thousands of homes and businesses will benefit from a more secure, flexible and resilient electricity supply to meet their needs long into the future.
Carl Pates, SSEN’s Swindon Project Director, says:
“As our customers move away from fossil fuels and look to renewable electricity to power their homes, cars, technology and workplaces, we need to make sure the electricity system has the capacity and resilience to support these ambitions.
“Through this £100 million investment, we’ll help support these national, regional and local growth ambitions, and ensure that the power our customers need now and in the future will be in the right place at the right time.
“This project will have a positive impact on the local area, and it will be carried out considerately, so the works themselves will have as little impact as possible on communities.”
Councillor Helen Belcher, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, says:
“This investment by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is good news for our area. Strengthening the electricity infrastructure is vital for supporting growth, innovation, and attracting new businesses.
“We look forward to this investment driving sustainable economic growth and securing long-term benefits for residents and employers alike."
Minimising disruption wherever possible
SSEN Distribution and OCU are working closely with Wiltshire Council to ensure essential works on roadways and footpaths are planned sensibly to minimise disruption. This co-operation means that the necessary ducting for a new underground cable route between Stratton and Faringdon will be installed before the Council begins its own work on a new footpath.
The Swindon project will result in much of the work taking place within existing substation sites. This will have little impact on neighbouring communities. In other areas, modernisation work and cable replacement will be more visible. When improvements are being made to the network in a specific area, we'll be in touch in good time to give homes and businesses more information.