Boscombe-Christchurch Network Investment

Contact Us

We are a considerate constructor and want to help answer any questions you may have.

Have a query? You can email us at LCD@sse.com

Have a complaint? You can email us at customercomplaints@ssen.co.uk or call us on 0800 980 1395.

Giving back to the community

SSEN and its contractors Keltbray are keen to work in harmony with the community. From school visits to volunteering opportunities, we’d love to connect with communities to make a positive difference. If you have a request you’d like us to consider, please email LCD@sse.com.  

Running until 2026, we are working to deliver a £12 million re-cabling scheme that will ensure a more reliable and efficient power supply, increasing the reliability of the Bournemouth-Christchurch electricity network for years to come.

What work is being delivered?

We will be installing new underground electricity cables to connect key substations in the area:

• Two will run from Christchurch Grid Substation to Southbourne Primary Substation.
• Two will run from Christchurch Primary Substation to Boscombe East Primary Substation.

This work will involve digging approximately 5.8 kilometres of trenches to lay the new cables. For part of the route, we will be using a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD). Read more about this method for laying cables here.

Infrastructure Upgrades:

• The connection at Southbourne Primary Substation will be directly linked to a transformer, which will help manage the flow of electricity.
• We will remove outdated equipment, including an old 33,000-volt switchboard and oil-filled cables, once the new cables are operational.

Community Benefits:

• Improved reliability and efficiency of your electricity supply.
• Upgraded infrastructure to support future energy needs.

This project represents a significant step forward in modernising your local power network, ensuring that homes and businesses receive an even more stable and dependable electricity supply.

Works Programme

Our Cable Route

Where are we working?

Please note: The following schedule is subject to change and permissions from BCP Council and Local Highways Authority. Please check back for the latest updates.

2025 Works

Our teams will return after Christmas working in Christchurch substation towards Seafield Road around Easter time. During summer, we will have two teams working concurrently: one team from Boscombe Substation towards Casltemain Avenue; one team working with our Horizontal Directional Drill into The Meridians and progressing towards Willow Drive.

We will update this page with details of the 2025 programme as works progress. Please note, dates are subject to change and permissions from BCP Council.

First Phase: Installing Ducts

The first phase of these works detailed above involves installing the ducts that will contain our new cables; the local council highways authority has awarded us permits to do this.

We will write to residents and businesses on each road that is impacted in sequence to ensure everyone is kept up to date with the progress of our work and the traffic management measures we will have in place.

When we close a road, a temporary diversion route will be provided. The diversion route must be suitable for all diverted traffic and be of a similar grade of carriageway. Road signage will direct traffic to use the shortest-available route which meets these requirements.

• Road Closures: Roads will be closed where necessary to ensure the safety of both workers and the public.
• Overnight Closures: Roads under construction will remain closed overnight but local access will be maintained.
• Emergency Services: Full details of road closures are shared with emergency services to minimise disruption.
• Refuse Collection: There will be no impact to local refuse collection services, and our site team will be happy to answer any questions you might have about access during the closures.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation as we complete our works as safely and quickly as possible. Please watch this video to learn more:

Second Phase: Installing Cables

The second phase of our work will see us return in late 2025 to connect the cables to our electricity network. To do this, we will dig smaller trenches at intervals along the cable route and pull the cables through the ducts to join them together. We will gain additional consent from the council and communicate our plans before the work starts.

Environmental and Road Conditions

Our delivery partner, Keltbray Infrastructure Services, has conducted a number of surveys to ensure that the impact of our work will be kept to a minimum along the full route.

Our team has worked closely with the local council highways authority to ensure that we are working collaboratively with other utility companies, while minimising disruption to local traffic flow wherever possible.

Keeping in touch

We understand these works may cause some disruption and noise, but we will follow industry best practices to ensure our contractors do everything they can to minimise any inconvenience.

We will write in sequence to residents and businesses on each road that is affected, to ensure that residents and businesses are kept up-to-date with the progress of our work and the traffic management measures we will have in place.

We will be holding community drop-in events at key points throughout the project; please look out for dates on our Events page.

Planned Supply Interruptions

There are no planned Power Supply Interruptions (PSI) scheduled to take place during the works, but anyone who has concerns about vulnerability during power cuts should register for our Priority Services.