The Energy Challenge
The country faces a major challenge in meeting projected energy needs over the next few decades, while at the same time tackling climate change.
The current UK peak demand for electricity is around 60GW (gigawatts). But over the next decade a number of power stations are planned to close.
The energy industry is now embarking on a multi-billion pound investment programme. This will encompass small and large scale electricity generation and substantial investment in energy networks to replace and upgrade ageing assets, constructing new overhead power lines and substations to connect and efficiently deliver new energy sources, as well as maintaining the levels of safety and reliability to which everyone has become accustomed.
What is the North London Reinforcement Project?
The North London Reinforcement Project (NLRP) comprises of a series of upgrades to an existing overhead line (OHL) route that runs from Waltham Cross Substation, near Waltham Abbey to Hackney Substation in London, one of the main electricity transmission routes into central London.
The route consists of two sections, the ‘ZBC line’, which runs from Waltham Cross to Tottenham, and the ‘VC line’, which runs from Tottenham to Hackney.
These upgrades will ensure that new sources of power generation located in, and supplying the boundaries of, the London region can continue to meet the city’s demand for energy.
What is happening in the North London area?
Over the coming years there will need to be a major investment to upgrade the overhead line and works at Waltham Cross Substation, Brimsdown Substation and in the vicinity of Tottenham Substation. The project also includes already permitted works to the section of the overhead line that runs from Tottenham Substation to Hackney Substation, and to Hackney Substation itself.
Where are we now?
We have now launched the third stage of our public consultation and we’re currently asking the public for their feedback on our amended proposals. This feedback will influence and accompany our final application for consent to carry out these works. You can have your say and view more details of our proposals, including plans, on our consultation website.
The OHL upgrade between Tottenham Substation and Hackney Substation, together with associated works to Hackney Substation, are covered by existing consents or are classed as permitted development. This means that National Grid does not need to seek any additional approvals before undertaking these works. We will however be consulting around our application for land access rights to carry out the upgrades.
What happens next?
The third stage of our public consultation is now underway and will continue until 3 June 2012.
Thank you to everyone that took part in our first and second stages of consultation between April and June 2011 and December 2011 and January 2012.
To have your say, you can:
Write to us at -
North London Reinforcement Project
Local Dialogue LLP
NAT3717
London
SE1 2BR
You can also call our community relations team on 0800 319 6186 or email nationalgrid@northlondonreinforcement.com