Balfour Beatty has secured the early works contract for National Grid’s planned 400kV Birkhill Wood substation in East Yorkshire.
The first phase covers early contractor involvement, including detailed design and site preparation. Main substation construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027, with commissioning planned for 2030, according to National Grid’s published programme.
Connection for 4.22GW of offshore wind
The substation will connect 4.22GW of offshore wind generation from three planned North Sea projects to the electricity network. National Grid says this would provide enough electricity to power more than four million homes.
The facility will support RWE and Masdar’s Dogger Bank South East and South West wind farms, as well as the proposed Dogger Bank D project from SSE Renewables and Equinor.
Birkhill Wood is planned approximately 700 metres north of National Grid’s existing Creyke Beck facility. East Riding of Yorkshire Council granted planning permission for the development in February.
The project includes a new 2km access road from the A1079, where construction has already started, and a gas-insulated substation intended to have a smaller footprint than a conventional open-air installation.
At its peak, the project is expected to support around 200 jobs, including apprenticeships and graduate roles.
Tony Wilson, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s power transmission and distribution business, said: “Upgrading the UK’s electricity network is essential to connecting more renewable energy and meeting future demand for secure, low-carbon power.
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with National Grid, drawing on our extensive experience and expertise to deliver the Early Contractor Involvement and enabling works that will help bring this nationally significant project forward.”
Balfour Beatty won the contract through National Grid’s £8bn Electricity Transmission Partnership. The contractor was appointed as the partnership’s regional delivery partner for the North East in July 2025, with the arrangement covering a programme of substation projects across England and Wales.