£14m investment to boost Birmingham power network

Over £14million is being spent on a major initiative to boost power supplies in Birmingham.

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distributor for the region, is committed to investing in its network to further improve supply reliability and customer service levels.

This new initiative involves the construction of a new substation in Hockley and the laying of around 8km of new 132,000 volt cable to connect the new substation to three existing substations at Nechells, Summer Lane and Winson Green. This will help to further safeguard supply reliability to around 41,000 customers in the city centre.

WPD’s investment is also designed to better accommodate any increased demands placed on the power network in the future for additional developments.

“It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to these areas in the long term by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network,” said Mick Dunne, WPD’s Projects Manager for the area.

The project, which has recently started is expected to be complete by October 2015, although work to lay the new cables will be completed by April 2015.

Traffic management will be in place to enable WPD’s contractors Prysmian and Durkin and Sons to lay the new cables and a signed diversion will be in place when New Town Row temporarily closes at the junction of Brewery Street in July and the junction with Cecil Street in October.

Added Mick: “While this work is being undertaken, our aim is to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum. We have been liaising with Birmingham City Council to agree on a cable route which creates the least disruption for traffic flow in the area and we have also co-ordinated our schedule with Amey to take into account the tunnel closures this summer.

“Our intention is to work on major junctions during off peak times and to keep customers who live along the route informed by letter. We have also been speaking with local bus companies about our plans.”