Plans have been revealed for a £21 million electricity substation upgrade project on Merseyside.

SP Energy Networks is aiming to start modernising Birkenhead Grid Substation in 2017.

The programme will see the facility completely transformed by replacing the existing equipment, which has been in place for over 60 years. The substation supplies power to 162,000 homes and businesses.

Further proposals include refurbishing the 7km 132,000 volt volt overhead line from Birkenhead Grid to Wallasey. In addition, several spans of overhead line will be replaced and three steel towers will be removed, with the installation of 800 metres of new 132,000 volt underground cables.


Mark Sobczak, Head of 132kV projects at SP Energy Networks, said: "This is the most significant electrical upgrade in the Wirral for more than 50 years, and our work will ensure that the grid is as reliable as possible for decades to come for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.

"The project will also see the removal of some steel towers, and the creation of new recreational land adjacent to the revamped substation. As well as boosting power supplies, we hope that our project will make a positive contribution to the local landscape."

SP Energy Networks will host a project event for residents to find out more information about the works at Bethany Chapel Hall, Homelands Drive on Thursday, 08 December.

The programme is scheduled to finish in 2020.

(LM/CD)