The interrupted landscape is due to the completion of an £850,000 improvement project by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to underground power supplies in the area.
The three-month long replacement works were undertaken as part of the distribution operator’s scheme to underground cables in areas that will be most visually improved; an ongoing £15m investment programme to underground 90km of overhead distribution lines in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and National Scenic Areas across its central southern England and north of Scotland networks.
Starting late last year, the team from SSEN dismantled the existing overhead power cables and associated equipment, replacing them with 1.5 kilometres of modern and more efficient underground cable that builds resilience in to supplies for local homes and businesses. Additionally, a new substation has been built to provide power for the nearby National Trust offices.
The upgrade of the current infrastructure strengthens the networks against the potential for power cuts during adverse weather events and also accommodates the increasing demand for low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels as customers look to net zero goals.
Tim Brooks is SSEN’s Project Manager for the works. He said:
“It’s been a pleasure for my team and I to work on this project in such a beautiful area and we’re delighted to have been able to restore the historic views across Godlingston Hill, while providing local customers and visitors to the area with a network that meets their needs now and for many years to come. This Dorset village is popular throughout the year with both tourists and local residents and it was important to SSEN, as a considerate constructor, that we carried out these works at a time that minimised disruption for everyone and also took in to account flowering seasons and breeding patterns of local wildlife. In particular, we had a very set date that we wanted to complete the project, so no noise or ground movement was made that would upset nesting birds and I’m happy to say we met those timescales. On behalf of my team, I’d like to thank residents for their patience while we carried out these visual improvement works and boosted their local power supplies.”
Tracey Churcher, the National Trust’s General Manager from the Purbeck Portfolio added:
“We are really pleased with the SSEN works to remove the overhead power cables around Currendon farm and the impact this has had on enhancing the natural beauty of the area. The works were completed on time and at a quiet time of the year and that is really appreciated.”
Godlingston Hill was proposed by local stakeholders as having the potential for visual improvement through the removal of the overhead network, and through subsequent consultation and analysis of the works was approved as part of SSEN’s £15 million undergrounding programme.
While SSEN’s overhead infrastructure provides a secure and cost-effective way of safely distributing electricity to homes and businesses, the distribution operator appreciates that the network can have an impact on the natural environment in officially designated beauty spots.
It’s through this understanding that SSEN encourages local people and visitors to these areas to share their views and assist in highlighting where investment through this £15 million undergrounding scheme will make the most difference.
For further information on the scheme and how you can propose an area to be considered for an undergrounding project, please go to https://www.ssen.co.uk/undergrounding/.