The wispas are true!

We have started work on a £6 million scheme that serves Cadbury’s factory at Alexandra Road, Bournville. The project, which is expected to run until 2022, involves replacing four grid transformers, 132kV circuit breakers and other 132kV equipment, along with all the 11kV switchgear. 

It also brings its own glass and a half of challenges, not least being that the site is steeped in local history. The Bournville substation was one of the first to be built in Birmingham in 1920 and even features as one of the landmarks on a local heritage trail. Because of this, we must take extra care throughout the project to preserve the original substation building which holds historical and sentimental value for local residents. The project also involves dismantling and rebuilding sections of the 5m high wall to access each of the existing transformers. Each transformer and associated switchgear will then be taken out and replaced, before the brickwork is rebuilt. Together with our contractors will then move to the next bay and repeat the process all the way along the 50m boundary wall. The removal of the wall will also pose security issues, as it may enable passers-by to see directly into the substation site. However, this will be overcome with the use of screening and on site security measures. 

And this is not the only reason why the job will be no picnic. Major changes to the local landscape since the original substation was built also present their own set of problems. A century ago, most of the housing around the substation did not exist. Fast forward 99 years and the site is surrounded by domestic properties on three sides, with a canal and railway on the other – these were vital transport links for entrepreneur George Cadbury’s burgeoning chocolate empire. 

Projects Engineer Barry Organ, who is managing the project, said: “The land around the substations is now a densely-populated residential area so I suspect we will get to know the neighbours pretty well over the three years we are here. We will, of course, do everything we can to minimise the disruption for residents, particularly when it comes to traffic and parking.” The area is popular with commuters because of its close proximity to the railway station. Although there will be parking restrictions as a result of the project, we will put traffic management in place to keep things moving on the roads around the site.

We will also be liaising closely with Cadbury, which relies on several 11kV supplies into its factory for its chocolate production. Barry added: “We will be working closely with Cadbury throughout the project to make sure it is business as usual. This project will upgrade and help future proof the network for both Cadbury and local residents. “We will be replacing all the existing substation switchgear, which was installed in the late 1950s and early 1960s and has now reached the end of its life, with the very latest, state-of-the-art equipment. We want to create a substation which is fit for the users of the 21st century while respecting and preserving the history and appearance of one of the city’s oldest substations.”