Overview

The North London Reinforcement (NLR) project will ensure London and the surrounding area is connected to new and future renewable energy that is being generated by offshore wind, solar and other sources around the country, keeping up with the capital’s increasing energy demand. 

The NLR project was approved in May 2014 by the Secretary of State and Government targets to connect 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, as well as increased demand across the network, have led to the project being brought forward as part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment programme. 

The NLR project is part of The Great Grid Upgrade (TGGU), which is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations and will play a significant part in meeting the UK Government’s plans to power all homes and businesses with green energy by 2030.
 

What will the works involve?

The NLR project will see work being conducted on the existing overhead line between Pelham substation and Hackney substation. The works will comprise of replacing the existing 275kV overhead line with a 400kV overhead line from Pelham substation, Hertfordshire to Waltham Cross substation in Epping Forest, through Enfield, to Tottenham substation in Haringey and then to Hackney Substation. 

There will also be associated works to the substations at Pelham, Rye House, Waltham Cross, Brimsdown, Tottenham and Hackney. 

Initial vegetation clearance took place in early 2024 at Pelham and Waltham Cross substations. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2024, with works taking place in phased intervals across the route until a completion date in 2027. 

By reinforcing the network between Pelham and Hackney, there will be a number of benefits:

• Secure the reliability and cost of energy in London
• Increase the supply of energy generated from renewable sources

Timeline

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What's happening in your area?

We will be replacing the existing 275kV overhead line with a 400kV overhead line from Pelham substation, Hertfordshire to Waltham Cross substation in Epping Forest, through Enfield, to Tottenham substation in Haringey and then to Hackney Substation. There will also be associated works to the substations at Pelham, Rye House, Waltham Cross, Brimsdown, Tottenham and Hackney. For the latest updates on these works, click the relevant tile below.

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