Bicker Fen – transformer installation for a new customer connection

We need to connect AGR Renewables’ Bicker Fen Solar Farm Project to the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) network. NGET owns, builds and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. As a regulated business, when a developer requests a new connection to the network, we have a legal obligation to meet their request.

European Energy’s Bicker Drive Solar Farm will connect to the National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) network, not the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) system. National Grid Group is made up of several distinctly separate legal entities, each with their individual responsibilities and roles. NGET owns, builds and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. NGED is the regional electricity distribution network in the East and West Midlands, South West and Wales and delivers power to homes and businesses across its regions

For more information about NGED please visit www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-distribution

To connect AGR Renewables’ project, we need to install a new transformer within the existing substation site to connect the solar farm to the NGET network.

We’ll start work in December 2024 and expect to complete in October 2025.

No. All the work that we need to carry out is at the existing substation and is classed as ‘permitted development’, under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. This allows providers of essential infrastructure, like National Grid, to undertake certain works without needing to submit applications for planning permission. This includes works to existing electricity sites, including the installation of plant and equipment.

Possibly at times. We need to dig some deep concrete foundations early in the new year. We’ll do that using continuous flight auger piling in January/February 2025. This type of piling is the quietest and fastest method, but may still cause some noise. The remainder of the work is general construction activity which won’t be particularly noisy. Our contractors will regularly monitor noise to ensure it stays within the levels permitted under local environmental health requirements.

You’ll see traffic management signs on the roads around Bicker and the A52. The signs will direct construction traffic away from the village and prevent access to local roads that don’t form part of the Traffic Management Plan route. Works vehicles will travel from the private access track along Ing Drove a short distance and onto Cowbridge Road before reaching the substation via Vicarage Drove.

Normal working hours will be between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12pm on Saturdays. However, HGV traffic will be limited to 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday and at no time during weekends or Bank Holidays.

No. The work will have no impact on your electricity supply. The work that we need to carry out is on part of the national transmission system and has no direct effect on homes, businesses, schools and other premises in the local area.

No. Construction traffic won’t travel through Bicker village where the roads are narrow and where people live. Instead, we’ll use the existing access track that runs between the A52 and Ing Drove, past Friest Lane. Temporary construction traffic signage will restrict access to roads into the village and direct construction traffic to the Traffic Management Plan route. This means all construction traffic will bypass the village.

Together with AGR Renewables and European Energy, we’ve committed to a strict Traffic Management Plan in agreement with Lincolnshire County Council, the local highway authority, to make sure we minimise disruption to the local community. The traffic management company will provide clear signage to make sure our construction traffic uses the agreed route and stays within the speed restrictions for construction traffic. We’ll emphasise to our employees and contractors the special care they need to take when driving to and from the area.

The traffic management company will also use a marshalling system so construction vehicles don’t have to pass one another along Ing Drove, Cowbridge Road or Vicarage Drove to get to and from the substation.

Smaller deliveries (including mail) can be left at the holding area for inclusion on another vehicle going to site.

We’ll have a strict Traffic Management Plan in place. This clearly identifies the roads project traffic can use and imposes lower than legal speed limits for construction traffic. All our staff and contractors will be fully briefed on the Traffic Management Plan before starting work on the project.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to contractors or staff who don’t follow the agreed traffic management plan. We’ll conduct our own regular, visible speed controls in the local area. Vehicles for the substation site will clearly display a National Grid sign in the windscreen. We encourage local residents to call our community relations line on 0800 073 1047with details of any vehicles suspected of breaking the traffic management plan.

While we expect little mud to be tracked onto the roads surrounding Bicker Fen substation, we’ll have a road sweeper out regularly as a precautionary measure to keep Ing Drove, Cowbridge Road and Vicarage Drove clean.

National Grid Electricity Transmission won’t need to close any roads or footpaths. Arrangements for the management of construction traffic will be set out in a Traffic Management Plan. This has been put together in consultation with Lincolnshire County Council, the local highway authority.

Some concrete foundations are needed for the new transformer. We’ll use continuous flight auger (CFA) piling, which is the quietest and fastest method of installing the new piles that we need. The piling work is scheduled for around January and February 2025, then the remainder of the work is general construction activity which won’t be particularly noisy.

The type of piling we’ll use is continuous flight auger piling, which is the quietest and fastest method available. There may still be some noise associated with the piling activity, but noise levels will depend on the distance from the piling. The existing planting around the substation will help reduce the impact of piling noise.

We’ll do everything we can to minimise disruption to you while we work in the area. We’ll make sure you are kept up to date through direct notifications (for those residents along the route for construction traffic – Ing Drove and Cowbridge Road), our community update letters, a public information event and our project website. We’ll also liaise directly with local people on any specific concerns. For the latest project information, visit: nationalgrid.com/bickerfensubstation   

You can call our Community Relations team if you have any queries about the work. You can reach the team on 0800 073 1047. They’re available daily from 9am – 5.30pm. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]