Nelson - Burnley investment

We're committed to maintaining and improving the network through our capital investment programme

Engineers have commenced work which will see £4m worth of upgrades carried out on the East Lancashire power network.

As part of our capital investment programme, 6km of underground electricity cables will be replaced as will assets within a substation in Nelson.

The work taking place on the 33,000-volt network will future-proof the network across Burnley and Nelson whilst also enhancing reliability, resilience and enabling more low carbon technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicle charging.

Once complete, more than 39,000 homes and businesses are expected to benefit from the new and improved infrastructure.

• This £4m investment will future-proof Nelson’s and Burnley’s electricity infrastructure and improve resilience and reliability
• The project supports our commitment to reinforcing the network and futureproofing for increased demand from low carbon technologies
• We are working closely with Lancashire County Council to coordinate works and minimise disruption
• Road closures and diversions may be necessary but will be carefully planned and communicated in advance in collaboration with local authorities
• We are committed to keeping residents, businesses, and commuters informed every step of the way.

Engineers begin by excavating and laying underground ducts to house the cables before returning to 'pull' the cable into place and connect them to the network through a process called 'jointing' at specific locations along the route called 'bays' The highway is then 'backfilled' and 'reinstated' to its original condition before the 33,000-volt cable is energised and connected to the power network.

Work is expected to be completed in June 2026. All work has been agreed with the local authorities and we've hand delivered letters to customers with details of any traffic management.

Phase two underground cable replacement May - June 2026

Phase one of the work to excavate and install ducting (what the cable sits in) is now complete. Phase two of the project sees teams return to begin the process of ‘pulling’ the underground 33,000-volt electricity cable through the ducting. This work will be carried out from May to June 2026.

We always aim to carry out our work as planned and with as little disruption as possible. However, the dates we publish for road works can sometimes change. This is because a number of factors outside our control can affect when it is safe or practical for our teams to work, such as weather conditions, ground conditions and emergency repairs.

Temporary traffic lights will be used to keep the public and engineers safe in the highway. How this will affect you:

• Eastern Avenue – 5 May – 8 May
• Casterton Avenue – 6 May – 12 May
• Colne Road – 8 May – 19 May
• Burnley Road – 12 May – 15 May
• Manchester Road – 15 May – 21 May
• Every Street – 19 May – 26 May
• Fleet Street – 21 May – 22 May