The two-year contract will see Balfour Beatty design and build a new 400 kilovolt substation as well as two new terminal towers which will support electrical conductors transmitting high-voltage electricity to the Little Horsted Substation Grid Supply Point.

Once complete, the new substation will form a key part of National Grid’s ‘Little Horsted Connection Project’ which will allow local electricity distributor, UK Power Networks, to connect with the National Grid – improving the electricity supply in East Sussex.

Works are due to commence in early 2024 with completion expected in Autumn 2025. At peak, the project will employ a workforce of up to 120 people including a number of apprenticeship and graduate positions.

Ian Currie, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission and Distribution business, said the deal would see Balfour Beatty improve the power supply in East Sussex, and “help provide the UK with the grid connectivity required to meet increased future demand.”