Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Yorkshire GREEN project.
Please let us know if you have any further questions by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 029 4359.
National Grid sits at the heart of Great Britain’s energy system, connecting millions of people and businesses to the energy they use every day. We bring energy to life – in the heat, light and power we bring to our customer’s homes and businesses; in the way that we support our communities and help them to grow; and in the way we show up in the world. It is our vision to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future. Our individual companies run the systems and infrastructure that deliver electricity across the country.
We are working to build a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system that serves everyone – powering the future of our homes, transport and industry. We believe by acting now, the UK can become the world’s first major clean economy, creating growth and jobs for communities across Britain.
National Grid is a group of companies, and one of those companies, National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), owns, builds and maintains the network in England and Wales. It's NGET that's delivering Yorkshire GREEN.
Within the National Grid Group there are other distinctly separate legal entities, each with their individual responsibilities and roles. More information about National Grid can be found on the about us section of National Grid’s website.
National Grid’s statutory obligations are set out in the Electricity Act 1989 (the Electricity Act) and its Transmission Licence.
We must develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system in accordance with security and quality of supply standards. Increasingly, the energy we use is coming from renewable sources with the largest growth coming from offshore wind. Anyone can apply to National Grid to connect new generation in any part of the country, and we have a statutory obligation to respond with a connection offer.
In planning new connections, we must consider the importance of preserving natural beauty and conserving flora and fauna (plants and animals) and features of special interest, including sites of archaeological, architectural or historic interest. These obligations are defined under Section 38 and Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act as to ‘have regard to the desirability of preserving amenity’ and to do what we reasonably can to mitigate the potential impacts of our plans when we are working out how best to connect new generation to our network. Potential options to achieve a new connection are therefore evaluated against these statutory obligations.
We are regulated by Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets). Further information about Ofgem is available on its website www.ofgem.gov.uk or you can call the Consumer Affairs team on 020 7901 7295 or email [email protected].
Yorkshire GREEN is part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. Yorkshire GREEN is the first project to receive consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and enter construction as part of The Great Grid Upgrade. Like other projects as part of The Great Grid Upgrade, Yorkshire GREEN involves building new infrastructure as well as utilising grid-enhancing technology, designed to maximise the output and efficiency of the existing electricity grid, and will enable the energy grid to carry more clean energy to communities in every part of England and Wales, helping us all reach net zero faster.
As we continue to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase clean energy generation, we’ll be using more electricity than ever. That means we’ll need a grid that’s able to carry all of this extra electricity to wherever we might need it. This means we need to build new infrastructure, as well as upgrading the existing grid, to bring this clean, green energy from where it’s generated to where it’s needed by homes and businesses.
The Great Grid Upgrade will also play a big part in the UK Government’s plan to boost homegrown power. It will help the UK switch to clean energy and make sure our electricity network is fit for the future; connecting clean energy that’s produced right here in the UK, increasing the self-sufficiency of our energy supplies.
As well as helping to reach net zero, the UK Government suggests that investment in onshore network infrastructure could support up to 130,000 jobs and contribute an estimated £4–11 billion of GVA (gross value added) to the United Kingdom economy in 2050.
To find out more about the Great Grid Upgrade, click here: https://www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade.
Project specific questions
The Yorkshire Green Energy Enablement Project, referred to as Yorkshire GREEN, involves the upgrade and reinforcement of the high-voltage electricity network in Yorkshire to improve the transfer of clean energy across the country.
Yorkshire GREEN will allow cleaner energy to flow into homes and businesses that need it in Yorkshire and beyond. It will provide a new connection and reinforcement on the electricity transmission system, whilst supporting ambitious net zero targets set by the UK Government.
The work to deliver this involves building two new substations at Overton and Monk Fryston, reconducting and strengthening 28km of existing overhead lines, installing 10km of new overhead lines, 1km of new underground cables and 33 new pylons. There will also be minor works to install additional equipment at Osbaldwick Substation.
The Yorkshire GREEN project includes work to upgrade and reinforce our electricity network.
Yorkshire GREEN is situated in Yorkshire. The project area runs from the north of York at Shipton (located northwest of York) down to Monk Fryston (located between Leeds and Selby) in North Yorkshire as well as along the eastern border of West Yorkshire around Leeds. We will also be working on our substation in Osbaldwick, to the east of York.
Location of works
- Overton Substation and nearby area. We are constructing a new substation at Overton, as well as new overhead lines to connect to the new substation. We are creating a new sealing end compound at Shipton Tee which will connect cables to overhead lines in the area
- Moor Monkton to Monk Fryston. We will be upgrading the overhead line between Moor Monkton and Monk Fryston Substation
- Tadcaster area. We will be constructing new sealing end compounds to connect cables and overhead lines together. We will also be removing a pylon and carrying out other overhead lines works to upgrade the infrastructure in the area
- Monk Fryston area. We will be constructing a new substation adjacent to the existing substation at Monk Fryston, as well as realigning the overhead lines to connect into the substation
- Osbaldwick Substation: We will be undertaking some minor upgrades to this existing substation, all within the existing boundary. Our work will include installing a new circuit breaker and isolator, and replacing a gantry and a pylon
Yorkshire GREEN will support the UK’s net zero target by reinforcing the electricity transmission network in Yorkshire and beyond.
The UK Government has set ambitious targets to decarbonise the country’s electricity supply, with the British Energy Security Strategy setting targets of 50GW of offshore wind generation by 2030 and up to 140GW by 2050 along with 70GW of solar power generation capacity by 2035. National Grid is committed to net zero by 2050, with a target reduction of direct emissions of 50 per cent by 2030. The project will help to reinforce the network and look to display grid enhancing technology to maximise the efficiency and output of the UK’s current electricity network, helping to connect projects such as Eastern Green Link (EGL) 1.
The reinforcement is needed because our existing power lines do not have sufficient capacity for all the new sources of electricity that we expect to connect to the network over the next 10 years and beyond. There is increased growth forecast in offshore wind capacity in Scotland and the Northeast of England, as well as increasing power flows to and from European power grids.
Yorkshire GREEN is entering construction, with works commencing in autumn 2024.
Prior to gaining development consent by The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, we held two rounds of public consultation, a non-statutory consultation in early 2021 and a statutory consultation in late 2021.
Our Development Consent Order (DCO) was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in November 2022 and the formal examination of the project was held between 22 March 2023 and 15 September 2023.
On 14 March 2024, our planning application was approved by The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
In summer 2024, initial survey works commenced. The development of construction compounds and the start of enabling works is expected to commence in autumn 2024.
In early 2025, the start of main works is expected to commence, with some new infrastructure expected to be operational in 2027 and all works anticipated to be complete by 2028.
We know that our responsibility as a business goes beyond safely building new energy infrastructure to enable a cleaner, fairer and affordable future. We want to leave a lasting positive impact where we build our projects to help those areas and communities thrive and to support a sustainable future. There are four key areas where we believe we can bring benefit to local communities and stakeholder groups who are hosting the infrastructure that supports the green energy transition:
- Natural environment – we will build partnerships with environmental groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) where we can support initiatives that enhance the landscape, biodiversity and availability of green space within the areas where we are constructing our projects
- Net Zero – we will work collaboratively with local authorities and partner organisations to offer our expertise and support in delivering the net zero priorities for that region
- Skills and employment – we will extend our Grid for Good programme - which supports socio-economically disadvantaged young people aged 16-25 - to deliver training and skills development in the region that will ultimately deliver employment opportunities in the net zero industry. In addition to this, we will work with our suppliers to develop opportunities for local employment and to bring benefit to the local economy through our projects. We will also work with schools and local authorities to encourage the next generation of engineers and help the long-term unemployed develop new skills
- Community Grant Programme – through our Community Grant Programme, charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for a grant towards community-based initiatives that deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.
As well as this, we are developing other community benefit offerings for the area and will be engaging with local stakeholders to help understand and inform local need.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is required under the Electricity Act 1989, to find a balance, developing proposals that are efficient, coordinated and economical, and that have regard to people and places. Each network upgrade must be considered on its individual merits, as required in planning law.
The National Policy Statement (NPS) which covers developing new electricity networks infrastructure (EN-5) states that the government expects overhead lines will often be appropriate. It does, however, recognise that there will be cases where this is not so, for example, at particularly sensitive locations, where potential adverse landscape and visual impacts of an overhead line may make it unacceptable in planning terms, taking account of the specific local environment and context. The locations of the overhead lines for Yorkshire GREEN are not considered to be unacceptable as per the NPS and therefore the majority of the route will use overhead lines.
There is, however, a short section of underground cabling for Yorkshire GREEN at Shipton Tee, which will run underneath the pylon route. This has been designed to run underground for practical reasons rather than to mitigate any landscape or visual impact. Other than this section of the route, the remaining infrastructure will be overground using overhead lines.
Once Yorkshire GREEN is completed, additional maintenance will be required over the projected life expectancy of the new infrastructure.
The primary goal of maintenance activities is to guarantee that assets reach their projected life expectancy without failure. National Grid strive to preserve asset condition through maintenance activities, while ensuring that additional and unnecessary tasks are not performed.
You can continue to get in touch with us using the details below:
Website: nationalgrid.com/yorkshire-green
Email: [email protected]
Freephone: 0800 029 4359
Freepost: FREEPOST YORKSHIRE GREEN
Please note, that our enquiries channels are monitored Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays.
If you are a landowner, have an interest in any of the land is affected by our Project, or if you have any questions relating to land interests in the area, please contact the Yorkshire GREEN Land Team at Fisher German using the following details:
Call us: 0845 437 7357
Email us: [email protected]
Write to us: YORKSHIRE GREEN, FISHER GERMAN LLP, Unit 2 Carolina Court, Lakeside Business Park, Doncaster DN4 5RA
Questions about construction
Both contractors will be working during core construction hours. These are:
Monday to Friday: between 7am and 7pm; and
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: between 8am and 5pm.
No piling works, which include placing wood, steel or concrete into the ground, will take place on Sundays or Public Holidays. Piling works will be restricted to between 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Some construction activities may take place outside the core working hours, and when possible, we will provide advanced notice of this.
Works will be happening at different sites across the project area at the same time. Our interactive map on the Yorkshire GREEN website allows anyone to search their postcode to see which elements of the project may affect them.
In addition, we will directly inform addresses in the immediate vicinity of works in advance and our communication channels will be updated regularly to provide information. Finally, we will be establishing a regular e-newsletter that anyone can subscribe to, which will provide updates direct to people via email.
Due to the nature of these works, some disruption is unavoidable. However, we will be doing everything possible to minimise the impact of the Yorkshire GREEN construction works on anyone living or travelling through the areas where work is taking place. We will also inform local communities of key stages of work that may affect them, ahead of time.
During construction we will need to carry out a range of temporary activities such as creating equipment storage areas and site offices. Road and public rights of way diversions will also need to be implemented.
We have prepared a Construction Management Plan that sets out controls and measures to reduce our impact on the local community.
We will work closely with the local community to minimise the impact of our project, where we can, and we will support community initiatives in areas where we are working to deliver social, economic or environmental benefits.
National Grid is committed to working with local communities and has a dedicated Community Relations Team in place to keep you informed about our works, answer any questions you may have and share news about how we are investing in your community.
We have a communications and engagement strategy in place to ensure that local people are kept informed and made aware of the works and know how to get in touch if they have any questions.
We use a number of channels to keep in touch with local people and interested parties, including:
- project updates by letter, leaflet or e-newsletter
- a dedicated community relations phone number, email address and Freepost address
- project website for construction updates and to view our interactive map – www.nationalgrid.com/yorkshire-green.
- public information events
- information shared through local media channels.
Traffic management is the name for the methods used by those doing work on the highway network to manage traffic flow during construction.
During construction you can expect to see a range of traffic management measures. While most of the work will take place in remote locations, such as within fields, there will be some works that may require traffic management measures, including:
- traffic cones to reduce the number of lanes available for traffic to allow work to take place
- contra-flows to manage traffic
- temporary traffic lights to manage traffic flows where a reduced number of lanes are operational
- temporary closure of cycle and bus lanes
- temporary suspension of on-street parking.
Information on what traffic management can be expected at each site will be provided regularly on the Yorkshire GREEN website and will be communicated to those likely to be impacted. Traffic management measures will be adapted in real-time as work is undertaken, though we will try and provide as much notice as possible. Drivers should expect varied traffic management and some disruption in advance of travelling.
We may need to close some public rights of way during construction. Any closures will be signposted, and advance notice will be provided where possible. No public rights of way will be closed permanently as part of the project.
Trans Pennine Trail routes are not affected by Yorkshire GREEN.
There will need to be a short National Cycle Network temporary diversion on Overton Road. This diversion will ensure that cyclists are kept safe from construction vehicles travelling along Overton Road. The diversion route will be signposted.
Shipton Lane is a designated public right of way and this will be temporarily diverted during the construction period. This is expected to take place between 2025 and 2026.
There may also be road closures or traffic management on roads around the construction sites. We will clearly communicate these in advance.
As part of construction works, there is likely to be an increase in traffic associated with construction works, including heavy goods vehicles used for deliveries.
The number of vehicles will vary between locations and over time.
National Grid will do everything it can to mitigate and manage the impact of construction traffic. We will also update the public via our project web pages and we will contact communities directly affected by construction traffic with information on what to expect and how they can ask questions.
We have carried out an Operational Noise Assessment and, a further Construction Noise Assessment will also be undertaken ahead of main works commencing.
During construction, where noisy works are necessary, they will be carried out during the day, within normal working hours where possible.
We don’t anticipate any significant noise when the project is operational, however we expect that the new substations will generate a low frequency ‘hum’, comparable with the noise levels of the existing substation at Monk Fryston and Osbaldwick.
Mitigation measures, such as landscaping and acoustic fencing, will be in place to minimise any potential impacts on surrounding residential areas.
Questions about the environment
Yorkshire GREEN will deliver environmental enhancements across the project area. We will be boosting the current level of biodiversity across the site area by at least 10%, leaving the area in a better condition than when it was found, improving habitats and creating new ones. This will include woodland restoration and enhancement, new planting and enhancing wildlife habitats.
As part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application process we have also carefully assessed any potential environmental impacts, and have developed plans to avoid, reduce, or mitigate any impacts on the environment.
Best practice measures will be implemented through a Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP). This will be prepared by the contractors and agreed before works commence on the site. This will include avoidance and protection of all areas outside the working area, pollution prevention and suitable site reinstatement.
We will also ensure that Yorkshire GREEN has the lowest possible carbon footprint upon completion. This is in line with National Grid Electricity Transmission’s commitment to achieve carbon neutral construction by 2026.
As we build and maintain our electricity assets, we have an impact on the land and local habitats. We are committed to reducing the fragmentation of habitats and species, preventing permanent habitat loss, and delivering new opportunities to reconnect the landscape and enhance the natural environment.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been carried out along the entirety of the route to assess the likelihood of the planned works giving rise to significant effects on the environment. The EIA is informed by assessments on areas including ecology, flood risk, transport, heritage, landscape and views, and ground conditions. The EIA has concluded that significant effects on the environment are not considered likely.
Best practice measures will be implemented through a Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP). This will be prepared by the contractors and agreed before works commence on the site. This will include avoidance and protection of all areas outside the working area, pollution prevention and suitable site reinstatement.
Mitigation measures will be applied throughout the project to protect biodiversity. We have produced a Biodiversity Mitigation Strategy as part of our application for development consent, you can view this document here.
We also have a statutory duty under schedule 9, section 3 of the Electricity act (1989), which requires us to ‘regard...and conserve flora, fauna, and geological features’, which we adhere to at all times.
Finally, whilst we build and develop to boost the security of the national networks, we also seek to support the local environment, and improve natural resources for communities.
Some of the environmental studies which we consider when planning new transmission developments are:
- Nesting bird surveys, done in both winter and summer. Nesting birds are especially protected by law. For more information, visit here.
- Migratory bird surveys - crucial to ensure transitory species are not adversely impacted by new developments. For more information, visit here.
- Bat and other vulnerable or endangered mammal assessments - including water voles, hazel dormice, and others, including aquatic wildlife impact assessments - such as Great Crested Newts. For more information visit here.
Contact the team
If you have a question or enquiry, you can also contact us in the following ways:
Email us: [email protected]
Call our Freephone number: 0800 029 4359
Write to us: FREEPOST Yorkshire GREEN (please note that you do not need a stamp)
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