Introducing Chesterfield to Willington

National Grid Electricity Transmission is proposing to enhance the electricity network by building and operating a new 60 kilometre (km), 400 kilovolt (kV) overhead electricity line.  This overhead line would connect at a new 400 kV substation at Chesterfield in Derbyshire and the existing Willington substation in South Derbyshire. The new substation at Chesterfield will be consented and delivered by a separate essential project - Brinsworth to High Marnham. Other local network configurations would also need to be carried out as part of this project. 

Our Chesterfield to Willington proposals will support the country’s energy transition and make sure the grid is ready to connect to more and more sources of low carbon electricity generated in Britain. The project would transport clean energy from the North of England to homes and businesses in the Midlands and play an important role in building a more secure and resilient future energy system. 

Without this upgrade, the network won't have the capacity that is needed to move electricity from where it is produced to where it is needed. Therefore, we need to upgrade it to maintain system compliance and prevent overloading circuits as they transport the energy that is generated. 

The Brinsworth to High Marnham project includes a proposal to build and operate a new 400 kV substation in Chesterfield. This new substation would be the northern connection point for Chesterfield to Willington. The substation does not form part of this project however, it will be considered during the ongoing design studies and when assessing cumulative effects.

These proposals form part of The Great Grid Upgrade, which is the largest overhaul of the grid in generations. 
 

Read more about what we’re proposing

Certain types of energy infrastructure fall within the categories of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which require a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008.

To build and operate the new Chesterfield to Willington line, we require a DCO under this Act. Consultation is an important part of the DCO process and the feedback we receive will shape our plans ahead of submitting the DCO application, which we anticipate will be in 2026. 

Consultation on Chesterfield to Willington is planned to take place over two stages. The first, Stage 1 (also called a non-statutory consultation) is consultation on our early proposals to help shape our plans. The second, and often final stage, Stage 2 (our statutory consultation) is consultation on our more detailed proposals following the feedback provided in the first phase. 

All the feedback received throughout our consultation process will be recorded and reported in our final Consultation Report, including how we have had regard for your comments. The Report will form part of our application for development consent.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) will then review and examine our application. This includes encouraging further submission of views from communities and other interested parties, before it makes a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will decide whether to grant consent. To find out more about the DCO process, please visit the Planning Inspectorate website.
 

Our public consultation 

We want to ensure that all stakeholders and communities are engaged in the development of our proposals and can comment on the proposals at key decision-making points. From 14 May 2024 to 17 September 2024, we held our first stage of public consultation to: 

• introduce National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and our proposals to you; 
• explain why we must build new electricity transmission infrastructure in this area and what technology is the best to use; 
• outline the work carried out to identify our emerging preferred route corridor and graduated swathe;
• ensure all stakeholders could provide feedback on our work to date and hear your views about where within our emerging preferred corridor and graduated swathe the exact route could be located, and how we should approach building this vital infrastructure; and; 
• outline next steps to the programme, and show how we will further develop our proposals. 

The first stage of consultation is now closed, but our communication channels are still open.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments about the Chesterfield to Willington project by:

Calling our community helpline: 0800 073 1047 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5:30pm. An answering service is in place outside of these times).

Emailing us: [email protected]

Writing to us: FREEPOST NATIONAL GRID PROJECTS (JBP) - no stamp or further address is needed.