We're carrying out a major upgrade to our infrastructure in Perth city centre. This work will boost both the reliability of customer supplies, while also supporting the Fair City’s decarbonisation ambitions.
Work is due to start for three months from Monday 20 April, and the main focus of the project will see of over 300 metres of the city’s existing underground cable network renewed, with a combination of upgrades and equipment replacement also scheduled for the Guard Vennel substation.
The location of this these essential works means that Guard Vennel (pictured below) - which is one of a number of pedestrian routes connecting High Street with Mill Street - will be closed for three months.
We're taking great care to respect the high standard of the current paving on Guard Vennel, and a batch of matching bespoke monoblocs has already arrived at our Perth depot ready for use once the new cable has been laid. Once works are complete, the vennel's surfacing will be reinstated to an even-higher standard than before works began.
SSEN Distribution’s Project Manager, Chris Dodds, says:
“We’re committed to providing a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity to our customers all year round, and this project will not only help to boost the resilience of supplies for our existing customers, it’s also been designed with an eye on the future, particularly the expansion of homes and businesses in Perth city centre.
“By upgrading our underground cables and equipment in the substation we’re not only making the network in this part of Perth city centre stronger to minimise the risk of power cuts, we’re also increasing network capacity. This will support local homes and businesses as they make the move over to low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps”.
Mark Westwood, SSEN Distribution’s Customer Relationship Manager, says:
“For the safety of pedestrians and our teams on site, the Guard Vennel footpath will be closed for the duration of these works. In addition, there will also be temporary traffic signals in operation on Mill Street between 11-25 May.
“We realise that any time we’re carrying out our essential work on roads and footpaths can also have the potential to disrupt customers’ day-to-day routines, and so we’d like to thank customers for their patience while we improve the network on their behalf.”
Alternative routes for pedestrians during these works
In addition to the shops either side of Guard Vennel which provide access between High Street and Mill Street during their opening hours, alternative pedestrian routes between the two streets are also available via the Skinnergate, which is a short distance to the east of Guard Vennel, and Cutlog Vennel to the west.