Branston Locks HV cable installation
Project name: Branston Locks HV cable installation
Client name: GTC
Location: Branston, Derbyshire
Date: October 2020 - March 2022
Value: £500k
The challenge
GTC needed a high-voltage (HV) power supply for a new industrial park development at Branston Locks. They asked Trust to install a 1,500m dual circuit 11kV ducted cable system, linking the local distribution network operator substation to the new site. We acted as principal contractor, taking responsibility for managing and delivering the installation in full – including stakeholder coordination, traffic management, technical compliance and safety.
The role we played
To make it happen, we put together a team of electric, traffic management and horizontal directional drilling experts from across the Trust team. Together, they excavated the site, carrying out duct installation and cable laying. They used trenchless techniques wherever possible to minimise disruption, environmental impact and subsequent reinstatement.
One of the project’s biggest challenges was that the cable needed to run beneath the busy A38. This required complex engineering, detailed planning and careful execution. We monitored traffic, gathered extensive borehole data and used horizontal directional drilling to complete the work safely and efficiently, outside normal working hours. At every stage, we liaised closely with the local authority to secure approvals.
The impact we made
Despite significant engineering challenges, we completed the project successfully and our trenchless techniques minimised disruption to a key transport route. We were able to deliver
a critical high-voltage connection to bring energy into the new industrial site, helping support local economic growth and future development.
