UK, England: National Grid has brought its new Little Horsted substation into operation, adding around 0.5 GW of capacity to the transmission network, which is enough to supply approximately 480,000 homes.
Located between Bolney and Ninfield, the substation forms part of ongoing investment in the South East, with $3.6 B (£2.7 B) planned between 2026 and 2031 to maintain and upgrade the network. The development will also support UK Power Networks in meeting increasing regional demand.
Construction took two years and included significant site preparation, with around 65,000 m3 of earth removed and reused locally. In October 2024, two supergrid transformers, each weighing 178 t, were transported from Shoreham Port to the site and installed.
The project also included environmental measures, with 9.7 ha (24 acres) of land in Framfield enhanced to support local wildlife. New habitats were created for protected species, including great crested newts, bats and dormice.
The substation is part of wider network improvements, including upgrades to overhead transmission lines. Further work on additional circuits is planned at a later stage.
Paul Alchin, National Grid Project Manager, said: “We upgraded one of the overhead line circuits coming in and out of Little Horsted substation as part of the new development and will return to upgrade the second circuit at a later date.”
The development contributes to National Grid’s recent growth in connections, including the addition of 2.4 GW of new generation capacity in 2025. It also enables further expansion of nearby infrastructure, supporting future electricity demand and new customer connections in the region.
Source: National Grid
