NORTHERN POWERGRID INVESTING £2.6 MILLION IN LEEDS CITY CENTRE’S POWER NETWORK

Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity network that powers everyday life for 8 million people across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is to start a £2.6 million investment programme to improve the reliability and resilience of the electricity network in and around Leeds University.

Starting in early January and running until the end of July 2023, the work focuses on replacing two existing high voltage underground electricity circuits dating back to the 1960s with more modern and sustainable equipment. The new equipment is capable of meeting the existing demand for power, as well as any future increase in demand as the area develops, the population grows and people become more reliant on electricity to power businesses and public buildings, provide heating and charge electric vehicles.

The work, which is being carried out by Balfour Beatty on Northern Powergrid’s behalf, will involve excavating in the roadway to lay new electricity cables along a 2.2km route between a substation located on Carlton Hill, LS7 and a second substation on Clarendon Place, LS2. The route includes Carlton Hill, Leicester Place, St Mark’s Road, Raglan Road, Woodhouse Lane and Clarendon Road.

Northern Powergrid and Balfour Beatty have worked closely with Leeds City Council to agree the best routes and times for the work to take place. Although temporary multi-way traffic lights will be in use, Northern Powergrid is looking to reduce disruption by using two teams, working overnight on the busiest roads and carrying out as much work as possible around university buildings during the Easter 2023 break.

Vehicle and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and Northern Powergrid will ensure that any businesses affected can make arrangements to continue to receive their deliveries. It is possible that some sections of on street parking will be temporarily suspended, but signage will be installed to notify users in advance of work starting.

There are no plans to turn off power supplies and it is unlikely that access to premises will be required.

Northern Powergrid is committed to keeping local people informed and will be writing to everyone directly affected to let them know the date that work will take place on their street.

Mark Salmon, Project Manager, Northern Powergrid, said: “We’re always very aware of the potential impact of our work on people’s everyday lives, which is why we’re doing all we can to support and communicate with the local community while we carry out this important investment in the area’s electricity network.

“We’ll be issuing information to all affected customers to explain what we’ll be doing and when. Our letters will also provide details of how to sign up to our free Priority Services Membership which offers extra advice and support to customers who may be more vulnerable.”          

People can also find out more about this work by contacting the company’s customer care team by emailing generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com or calling 0800 011 3332. The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter.

For information about joining the electricity distributor’s free Priority Services Membership visit northernpowergrid.com/care or call 0800 169 2996. For information about what to do if your power supply is ever affected in the future visit northernpowergrid.com/be-prepared    

To translate information into another language, customers can click the Accessibility icon at the top of all Northern Powergrid’s webpages or call its language line on 0800 389 8204.

People who find it difficult to speak or hear can use text phone 0800 028 9507 or text relay: dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 2996.

Those who are visually impaired can click the Accessibility icon at the top of Northern Powergrid’s website to change font sizes and colours or click the Recite Me icon to have information read out to them. People can also sign up to receive communications in larger print or Braille by calling the Powergrid Care Team on 0800 169 2996.