Electricity North West’s £7.5m scheme creating vital capacity on the Samlesbury power network has progressed to the next stage.
Engineers from the region’s power network have laid the foundations for the project which will accelerate the progress being made at Samlesbury Enterprise Zone and meet increasing electricity demand in the wider area driven by the low carbon transition.
Already, 22km of underground ducts, which will protect the electricity cables, have been laid whilst work, which commenced in February, is well underway on the new 33,000-volt substation.
Electricity North West’s chief executive, Peter Emery welcomed the new Lancashire County Council Leader, Cllr Phillippa Williamson and new Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, Cllr Aidy Riggott to the site and talk about the progress being made in the delivery of key utility infrastructure.
“We were delighted to welcome Councillors Williamson and Riggott to our development on the Samlesbury site,” Emery said.
“This is a major opportunity for the Enterprise Zone site, not only for Lancashire but Electricity North West and the wider region. Our work will ensure the network has enough capacity to meet local demand growth and will guarantee that the major new facilities already being built will have all the power they need to drive clean growth.”
Electricity North West’s work will facilitate the delivery of the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone, which is a major, regional, and strategically important employment site, with the potential to deliver over 1.5m sq ft of commercial floorspace, generating around 2,500 high value jobs and investment value of well over £200m.
The focus of the Enterprise Zone is to attract new investment in high-value engineering, high technology and advanced manufacturing sectors into Lancashire.
County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, leader of the county council, said: "The Enterprise Zone is a vital project to attract new investment, create new jobs and redefine the Lancashire economy in new ways as we look beyond the pandemic. By working in partnership, including with Electricity North West, we're unlocking the potential and planning ahead for future growth.
"More than £13m has already been invested in the site's infrastructure by the county council to create a high-quality setting for businesses, which includes the creation of the spine road, over 2,000 trees planted as part of our zero-carbon ambitions and sustainable drainage systems."
The county council is investing in and successfully delivering the Enterprise Zone in partnership with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, BAE Systems, Electricity North West, and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre for the North West.
County Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: "This Enterprise Zone is a major component of our wider plans to bring thousands of new jobs to Lancashire, as well as providing opportunities for new and emerging business sectors.
"We're already working closely with our partners to plan and deliver several major strategic development programmes across the county, which have regional and national significance. And to realise these ambitions, we're currently recruiting to bring together a skilled team, which will drive forward our exciting plans and help us to bring more jobs and growth to the county."
The scheme at Samlesbury is one of eight key projects that Electricity North West is embarking on across the region as part of a £25 million investment in creating vital new capacity.
As well as providing for industrial growth in areas like Samlesbury, the projects will support the region’s transition to using more renewable electricity for everything from transport to heating.
For more information about Electricity North West, please visit www.enwl.co.uk.
