Puxton to Kenn
Current construction activity
| Date from | Date to | Activity |
| May 2021 | 2024 | Building and energising new T-pylons |
| 2020 | 2024 | Removing existing pylons |
| 2018 | Ongoing | Roadworks and traffic management |
| 2018 | Ongoing | Access to public footpaths and rights of way |
Overview – Spring 2024
National Grid is in the final stages of completing the north section of the Hinkley Connection route between Sandford and Seabank substations.
68 new T-pylon structures have now been completed between Sandford and Portbury with the final wires being hung in March 2024. Diamond shaped insulators were lifted into place July 2023.
The innovative T-pylons will be connected to the new line of 27 lattice pylons erected between the River Avon and Seabank substation.
Teams will now work to test and commission the new T-pylons, as well as the lattice pylons through Avonmouth, in preparation for energisation by the end of 2024
Using the T-pylon design, reduces the height of the new electricity infrastructure by a third. At 35 metres high, the new T-pylons are shorter and take up far less room on the land than National Grid's traditional lattice transmission pylons.
To make way for the new 400,000 volt connection, National Grid is removing 249 existing 132,000 volt lattice pylons, and overhead wires stretching 67 kilometres from the Somerset landscape.
We’ve taken down 248 of 249 lattice pylons, the one remaining lower voltage pylon in Portbury, expected to be removed in the coming months.
We have begun reinstatement across the new connection route, removing construction access, temporary roads and work pads. You may expect to see more construction traffic on local roads and we will be in touch ahead of any traffic management impacts.
Thank you from everyone working on the project for your patience and understanding as we work to towards full completion of this project which will play such a key role in helping the UK meet its net zero ambitions by transmitting cleaner, homegrown, energy around the UK – enough to power six million homes and businesses.
Puxton to Kenn timeline
Early 2021 to mid 2023
Modifications to the existing 132,000 volt overhead line to Weston-super-Mare
What we are doing:
Building a temporary entrance and access road to allow construction traffic to enter site from the local highway. You can find more information on our construction information page.
Building a new connection from Sandford substation to the existing overhead line that goes to Weston-super-Mare. It will be made up of 700m of underground cable and nine new lattice pylons. This is to ensure local electricity supplies are maintained.
Removing 1.5 km of the existing overhead line to Weston-super-Mare that runs north-west from Sandford towards Puxton.
Early 2021 to mid 2024
Build a new 400,000 volt overhead line
What we are doing:
Building temporary entrances, crossing points and access roads to allow construction traffic to enter site from the local highway. You can find more information on our construction information page.
Building a new overhead line from Sandford substation to Seabank substation (approximately 31.2 km).
- We will use T-pylons in this area.
Early 2021 to mid 2024
Remove the existing 132,000 volt overhead line
What we are doing:
Removing existing overhead line from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth.