Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for powering 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is about to start a programme of work to upgrade a number of substations and install new underground electricity cables along the A6108 between Richmond and Scotch Corner.

The work will provide capacity to support future demands on the network as the area develops, the population grows and people become more reliant on electricity to work, power their businesses, heat their homes and charge electric vehicles. Specifically, Northern Powergrid is providing connections to its network for the new Designer Outlet Village on Barracks Bank and also ten new vehicle charging points at Scotch Corner Services. By creating more robust links between existing substations, it will also increase overall reliability and resilience, reducing the time it takes to restore electricity supplies if there is a power cut in the future.

Taking place between 17 January and the end of May 2022, Northern Powergrid’s work in the area will require an extended road closure and the use of two-way traffic lights along sections of the A6108 between Barracks Bank, near Scotch Corner, and Cross Lanes in Richmond.

From Monday 17 January until the end of May 2022, Northern Powergrid’s contractor O’Connor Utilities will be digging in the grass verge, footpath and roadway between Skeeby substation (located on the A6108 near the entrance of Dale2Swale glamping) and the junction of Ronaldshay Drive/Cross Lanes in Richmond. Two-way traffic lights will be in operation for the first four weeks of the work between Skeeby substation and the junction of Mile Planting.

From Monday 7 February until mid-May 2022, the A6108 will be closed to through traffic between Barracks Bank and Skeeby substation while Northern Powergrid’s contactor, Excalon digs in the roadway. Two teams will be used to ensure the work is completed as quickly as possible – one starting at Barracks Bank and the other at Skeeby substation.

Around the clock vehicle and pedestrian access for residents and emergency vehicles will be maintained. There are no plans to turn off anyone’s power and it is unlikely that Northern Powergrid will need access to premises. The company will also work with businesses to ensure they can arrange to continue to receive deliveries.

Throughout the closure, a signposted diversion will be in place along the A6055/A6136 through Brompton on Swale, Brough with St Giles, Colburn, Catterick Garrison and then along Richmond Road, Longwood Bank and Rimington Avenue to Richmond.

Mike Hammond, Northern Powergrid’s General Manager for the North Yorkshire region said: “This work forms part of Northern Powergrid’s commitment to boost network capacity, increase reliability, support economic development and enable the switch to green energy across our operating region.

“However, we’re always very mindful of the potential impact our work can have on people’s everyday lives and we’ll be doing all we can to minimise disruption where we can. We’ll be delivering letters to all customers along the route to explain what we’ll be doing and when and we’ll also be issuing ongoing updates via local councillors, the media and social media. Our communications will also provide details of how to sign up for our free Priority Services Membership which offers extra support for people who may be more vulnerable.”

Anyone wanting to find out more can visit northernpowergrid.com or contact the company’s customer care team by calling 0800 011 3332 or emailing generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter @northpowergrid.   

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.

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