Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has begun a multi-million-pound programme to strengthen Buckinghamshire's electricity infrastructure, a scheme that will more than double available capacity for almost 13,000 homes and businesses and enhance reliability as demand for clean power grows.

Delivered in partnership with contractor OCU Group, the project focuses on upgrading transformers and other critical equipment at three primary substations serving the High Wycombe area. As these works take place within existing substation compounds, no wider public disruption is expected from this element of the upgrade.

SSEN will also construct new underground 33kV cable routes between Stokenchurch and High Wycombe, and between High Wycombe and Chisbridge. Some activity on public roads will be required, planned in close coordination with Buckinghamshire Council to minimise disruption for residents and businesses. Completion of this part of the programme is expected in 2027.

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On one section, the cable will be installed beneath the River Wye using the latest underground drilling technology to avoid disturbing the river's ecosystem and nearby listed properties.

The upgrade is designed to support the increasing uptake of electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels across the county, while delivering a more robust supply in an increasingly volatile climate.

Benedict Diment, SSEN's Project Manager, said: "Buckinghamshire's households and businesses are calling for more electricity, and this project will help deliver it for thousands of them. The laying of new cable routes, and the installation of new state-of-the-art substation equipment, will transform the local electricity network. It'll massively increase the capacity on offer for people and businesses who want to charge an EV, warm their property with a heat pump, or generate and export their own clean electricity via solar panels.

"As with most infrastructure projects, work on public roadways will be needed at times to deliver some aspects of our investment. I'd like to thank our colleagues at Buckinghamshire Council for their proactivity and support during the planning stage of these works; together we'll work hard to ensure any disruption to road users and residents is kept to a minimum.

"We'll also be using the latest in cable-installation technology in part of the planned route to further minimise any impact to the local environment arising from these works."