The substation, on Adamson Street, Burnley, was specially selected to receive a community makeover as part of Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project.
Substations are critical parts of the power network, bringing electricity to local homes and businesses.
Through Transforming our Spaces, Electricity North West identified areas of land around substations which have suffered vandalism, lack wildlife, or may lack funding to carry out such community projects.
As part of the transformation, Electricity North West engineers cleared the site and planted wild flowers, bug hotels and planters as well as laying wood chippings on the ground.
Upon completion, Burnley MP Julie Cooper was welcomed to the revamped area and shown around the site while meeting members of the Electricity North West team.
Charlie Briggs, Gannow Burnley and Padiham ward councillor, Police Community Support Officers and residents also attended site along with members of Gannow Community Centre, who assisted with the project and will now look after the area.
Angie Thornton, delivery manager at Electricity North West, who is heading up the Transforming our Spaces project, said: “Everybody is delighted with the outcome and results from our substation project in Burnley and it was a pleasure to welcome Julie Cooper MP along with residents and volunteers from the community centre.
“This is a real transformation, we learnt of the project through Alan Barnes, who works at Gannow Community Centre. He made contact with us and asked us if we could provide any assistance.
“When we cleared the site, we found all sorts of objects including rubbish, tyres and dog waste.
“What was a blight on the area, is now a vibrant community garden that residents and the community centre can be proud of.
“Substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are a key part of the electricity network. The project has been extremely well received and I know people are extremely keen to get involved.”
As well as Burnley, eight other substations throughout the region have received makeovers.
Now the Burnley project is complete, Gannow Community Centre have been handed the keys and volunteers will use the space as a community garden and will also engage with children and all those within the community on how to plant and cultivate vegetables. It will also be a space for the community centre to undertake community projects outdoors.
Electricity North West engineers will provide maintenance for the area.
Burnley MP Julie Cooper added: “The project to create a community garden alongside Gannow Community Centre is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when different organisations come together.
“By bringing this area into use it will not only provide a well-loved asset for the residents of Gannow but also stop the site being used for fly tipping rubbish.
“I enjoyed spending time meeting with Electricity North West and Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Voluntary Service charity who have made this garden a reality and congratulate them on this work.”
