Update from Northern Powergrid, 24 March 2021

Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity network that powers everyday life for 8 million customers across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire is about to move onto the final stage of its £30 million investment to improve the reliability and resilience of the electricity network serving Bradford. 

The investment work, which started in September 2019, will be ongoing until the end of 2022 and involves excavating in the road to lay a total of 132km (around 82 miles) of new underground electricity cables with a route length of 17km (10.5 miles). The work focuses on replacing five of the major circuits that supply electricity to approximately two thirds of Bradford’s homes and businesses and it will ensure that the local electricity network is capable of meeting the existing demand for power as well as any future increase in demand as the population grows and more households swap their cars for electric ones.

By the end of March 2021, Northern Powergrid will have completed all of its main excavation works which has seen it digging in the roadway to lay ducting for new electricity cables at various locations in Wilsden, Thornton, Allerton, Fairweather Green, Four Lane Ends, Girlington, Sandy Lane, Heaton, Manningham and the city centre.

Between early April and mid-August, the company will be inserting electricity cables into the ducting it has laid between its substation on Back Lane Wilsden and another substation on Canal Road near the city centre, plus an electricity tower located on King’s Road. This will involve digging joint bays - compartments in the roadway measuring around 13 metres long x 4 metres wide x 1.3 metres deep - where the new cables will be joined together.

There will be one associated road closure on Heaton Park Drive from Branksome Crescent to the junction of Heaton Road. The closure will be in place from mid-May for around six weeks, with a signposted diversion in place along Toller Lane, Leylands Lane, Highgate and Heaton Road. Northern Powergrid will write to everyone directly affected with more information.

Additional work will take place using temporary multi-way traffic lights or by operating narrow lanes for around six weeks at each of the following locations, with start dates as follows:

Lane Side, Wilsden, near the junction of Badgergate Avenue early April 2021

Wilsden Road, near the junction of Shay Lane mid-April 2021

Wilsden Road, near Lower Swain Royd Farm mid-April 2021

Haworth Road, near Bay of Biscay cottages end April 2021

Haworth Road, near Tesco Express early May 2021

Haworth Road, near Haworth Road Methodist Church early May 2021

Toller Lane, near the Hare and Hounds Public House mid-May 2021

Heaton Road, near the junction of Oak Lane end May 2021

Oak Lane, near the junction of Mansfield Road early June 2021

Manningham Lane, near the junction of Queen’s Road early June 2021

Station Road, between Queen’s Road and Canal Road mid-June 2021

Timings are approximate and may be subject to change if we encounter unforeseen difficulties.

There are no plans to turn off anyone’s power as part of this work and pedestrian access to premises will be maintained at all times.

Northern Powergrid is advising motorists to allow longer for journeys and thanks all of its customers for their ongoing patience while this important investment in the local electricity network continues.

A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said: “Once our cable laying and jointing work is completed towards the end of July this will conclude the most impactful part of our £30 million investment to provide a modern and reliable power network for Bradford. Although our work in the area is continuing until the end of 2022, much of what we’re doing from July this year onwards will be on private land or within our substations.

“As we complete our programme of digging joint bays and inserting our new electricity cables, we’re providing as much notice as possible so that people can plan ahead to avoid disruption. We’ll be communicating directly with all affected customers via letters and we’ll also be keeping local councillors and the local media fully up to date with what we’ll be doing and when.”

“We’re extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the local community during our work in the area which has meant we’re looking to finish this final phase of our work in Bradford early, reducing the amount of disruption for customers.”

While Northern Powergrid is not planning to turn off the power as part of this programme of work, it does have a free Priority Services Membership scheme for anyone who may need extra support in a power cut due to their medical or personal circumstances. By joining, individuals can access a range of additional services. To find out more visit www.northernpowergrid.com/care or call 0800 169 2996.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the investment work can also visit the new Bradford section on the Northern Powergrid website at northernpowergrid.com/bradford, contact Northern Powergrid’s customer care team by calling 0800 011 3332 or by email generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com

The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter.

To translate information into another language, people can click the Accessibility icon at the top of all Northern Powergrid’s web pages or call its language line on 0800 389 8204.

People who find it difficult to speak or hear can use text phone 0800 028 9507 or text relay: dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 2996.

Those who are visually impaired can click the Accessibility icon at the top of Northern Powergrid’s web pages to change font sizes and colours or click the Recite Me icon to have information read out to them.

People can also sign up to receive communications in larger print or Braille by calling the Powergrid Care Team on 0800 169 2996.