East Hoathly with Halland Parish Council
Little Horsted – New Electricity Substations
What is it?
National Grid have informed us that this project involves the development of a new electricity supply point near Little Horsted, at the junction of Eastbourne Road with the A22 (Crockstead). This is essential to allow UK Power Networks to connect to National Grid network, enabling them to improve the electricity supply to the surrounding area and meet increased demand.
The new connection will involve building two new electricity substations (one for National Grid and one for UK Power Network) and two new pylons, along with the dismantling of one existing pylon.
Why is it being done?
The development will provide the connection for UK Power Networks, who need to upgrade their electricity network to meet future growth in electricity demand and to replace UK Power networks overhead lines, which are due for renewal, along an 18km route between Ringmer and Polegate.
Establishing a new grid supply point near Little Horsted, connected to UK Power Networks’ Lewes substation via new underground electricity cables, will maintain the future reliability of the network and means that UK Power Networks can remove 72 pylons between in the Ringmer area of East Sussex, including 10 in the South Downs National Park.
Under the Electricity Act, National Grid has a licence obligation to connect customers like UK Power Networks to its high voltage network in order to ensure a safe and secure network and to meet local demand.
What happens next?
Wealden District Council have given planning permission for the development and work will start in February 2024. The Parish Council has been supportive. Parishioners should note that :-
- a) No financial benefits accrue to the Parish from this development.
- b) The primary purpose is to improve the connection to the UKPN Lewes substation. The PC is well aware of concerns with the integrity of the electricity supply in the Parish, but enquiries to date have yielded no further information as to the nature or timetable of potential benefits related to supply security in this specific area.
The Parish Council is meeting with the Little Horsted Project Team in January 2024, along with Framfield and Little Horsted Parish Councils as all border the project. We understand that there is a plan to send out start of works letters to neighbours and other residential properties near the site towards the end of January, and keep us, as a Parish Council, updated as the project progresses through a website, letter and a freephone helpline. If you have any questions or concerns that you wish us to express on your behalf, please let our Clerk know.
Little Horsted – New Electricity Stations
If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor please contact our Clerk for more information.