At National Grid we are at the heart of Britain’s energy system, connecting people to the energy they use, safely and reliably. We keep the lights on so people can go about their daily lives. We’re working to build a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system that serves everyone. And it’s our responsibility to allow new sources of energy to connect to our system so we can all benefit from the electricity they generate.
This project will provide new connections to our network, for AGR Renewables’ Bicker Fen Solar Farm and Little Hale Fen Solar Farm. To make these connections we’ll need to install two new small transformers within the existing Bicker Fen substation.
The work will have no impact on local electricity supplies in the area.
We started preparation work, including surveys, in January 2025. In spring, we’ll begin groundworks and laying foundations for the first new transformer.
The next phase will be to install the infrastructure to connect this transformer, including steel structures and switchgear. We intend to install the transformer itself in late spring 2025 and complete the work in November 2025.
We plan to start work to connect Little Hale Fen Solar Farm in summer 2025 and expect to have completed this work in summer 2026.
We’re committed to minimising any potential impacts from our work on the local community. Depending on where you live, the effects may differ. Together with AGR Renewables and European Energy, who are also undertaking works in the area, 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.
We held a community information event at Bicker Village Hall on Thursday 7 November 2024. We were pleased to see so many members of the community join us, and we greatly appreciate everyone who took the time to attend. We'll keep local residents updated during our works via this webpage, direct notifications and letters.
Due to the very nature of what we do – connecting people to the energy we all use – we’re at the heart of communities and each year we make a significant charitable investment in the UK. Our Community Grant Programme is aimed at community organisations and charities in areas where our work is impacting local people through our operations and construction activities.
Communities impacted by the maintenance of existing infrastructure (e.g. refurbishment of overhead lines or substations resulting in road closures and other impacts) can apply for grants of up to £10,000.
More details and information about how to apply
We need to connect AGR Renewables’ Bicker Fen Solar Farm and Little Hale Fen Solar Farm 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.
To connect AGR Renewables’ projects to the NGET network, we need to install two new transformers within the existing substation site.
We started mobilisation work to connect Bicker Fen Solar Farm in January 2025 and expect to complete in November 2025. Work to connect Little Hale Fen Solar Farm will start in June 2025 and expect to complete in summer 2026.
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. To connect Bicker Fen Solar Farm, we need to dig some deep concrete foundations which we’ll do, using continuous flight auger piling in late March 2025. For the Little Hale Fen Solar Farm connection, we will need to carry out similar piling works – again using the continuous flight auger method – in late June 2025. This type of piling is the quietest and fastest method. The existing planting around the substation will help reduce the impact of piling noise but there may still be some noise associated with the work.
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.
We won’t need to close footpaths. However, some roads may need to be temporarily closed for up to half a day to allow for the delivery of the new small transformers to the site. We’ll notify local residents, businesses and landowners well in advance of any planned road closures. We’ll ensure clear and visible signage is in place to direct traffic along any diversion routes.
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 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 keep the local residents up-to-date through direct notifications (for those residents along the construction traffic route – Ing Drove, Cowbridge Road and Longhedge Drove), our community update letters and our project website.
We’ll also liaise directly with local people on any specific issues.
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 7am – 7pm. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]