Image source: ssen.co.uk

More than 7,500 customers in Southampton now benefit from a significantly improved electricity supply following the completion of an ~US $10.5 million (≈ £8 million) upgrade to the local infrastructure in the North Baddesley area. Delivered in partnership with the Freedom Group of Companies Ltd, acting as design‑and‑build contractor, the project added 47.8 MVA of network capacity.

The upgrade supports new electricity connections and enables residents and businesses to adopt low‑carbon technologies including electric vehicles, solar panels, and heat pumps, in line with Southampton’s low‑carbon goals.

Over a 16‑month programme, work included the construction of a new substation with two state‑of‑the‑art transformers and installation of nearly seven‑kilometres of underground cabling along the previous overhead network between North Baddesley and Rownham. These improvements strengthen the local electricity network’s resilience and flexibility, reducing outage risk and future‑proofing supplies against severe and unpredictable weather.

Tim Eccleston, Project Manager at SSEN, noted that the undergrounding of cables also improves the local landscape and visual amenity, and that the extra capacity will help homes and businesses transition from older heating and transport systems to low‑carbon solutions—benefiting the community in the long term.

Source: ssen.co.uk