At National Grid Electricity Transmission, we’re investing around £1.3bn each year to adapt and develop our network - of pylons, overhead electricity lines, cables and substations - to connect new sources of low carbon energy to homes and businesses. 

The Brinsworth to Chesterfield and Chesterfield to High Marnham Projects (formerly Brinsworth to High Marnham) are separate but closely linked reinforcement projects. Together they would enable us to uprate the existing 275 kV overhead lines between Brinsworth and Chesterfield and Chesterfield and High Marnham to 400 kV.  

The Brinsworth to Chesterfield Project includes the construction of a new substation on land east of Long Lane in Brinsworth and another near Chesterfield in North East Derbyshire. These substations are required to uprate the Brinsworth to Chesterfield section of the overhead line from 275 kV to 400 kV. 

The Chesterfield to High Marnham Project is a separate reinforcement that would uprate the 275 kV line between Chesterfield and High Marnham to 400 kV. It would make use of the new substation near Chesterfield and also requires a new substation at High Marnham in Bassetlaw.  

Together, these projects would provide the necessary increased capacity of the electricity transmission network, transporting clean energy from the North of England to homes and businesses in the Midlands and beyond and play an important role in building a more secure and resilient future energy system.  

Both Projects form part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the grid in generations, which would play a big part in the UK government’s plan to boost homegrown power. It would help the UK switch to clean energy and make sure our electricity network is fit for the future; carrying more clean, secure energy from where it’s generated to where it’s needed.

Overview of Projects  

The Brinsworth to Chesterfield Project involves proposals for a new substation on land east of Long Lane in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.  This substation would enable us to uprate the existing 275 kV electricity transmission network between Brinsworth and Chesterfield to 400 kV.  This Project would also include works to connect the uprated network to a new substation near Chesterfield in Derbyshire. 

The Chesterfield to High Marnham Project involves proposals for two substations, one near Chesterfield in Derbyshire and another in High Marnham, near Normanton on Trent in Nottinghamshire. These new substations would enable us to uprate the existing 275 kV electricity transmission network between Chesterfield and High Marnham to 400 kV.  

The delivery of both Projects would ensure that we continue to deliver electricity safely, reliably and efficiently to the customers and communities we serve - all while working towards building a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system for the future. 

The new substations would support the transfer of renewable energy and improve system resilience between the North of England and the Midlands and beyond. 

By getting greater capability out of the existing network through the delivery of both Projects, this would allow more electricity to pass through the transmission network and help accelerate the connection of clean energy projects. 
 

View a route map

Other Information

We undertook an extensive consultation with local residents, businesses and stakeholders in summer 2024. The feedback we received helped us to shape our proposals for both Projects and finalise our planning applications.  

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and Bassetlaw District Council will carry out their own public consultation as part of the process to determine the planning applications.