A major multimillion-pound investment programme which will transform the electricity network in Blackpool is well underway.
SP Electricity North West will soon start the construction of a new 33,000-volt substation, part of a wider £7.5m investment in the town.
The new substation will be located on land close to Blackpool Airport and will help power future development within the Silicon Sands masterplan at Blackpool Enterprise Zone.
Engineers have already laid 5.6km of underground duct which required the use of specialist equipment to protect heritage tramways.
The significant engineering project will enhance capacity across Blackpool while also ensuring the power network will be able to support the town’s long-term plans for economic growth and job creation.
Ian Lillis, SP Electricity North West’s project manager for the work in Blackpool said: “This upgrade represents a significant milestone in supporting the next phase of growth at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
“The installation of new infrastructure, alongside a purpose‑built substation at the airport, will provide the additional capacity required to unlock new opportunities and enable developments such as Silicon Sands.
“This investment will help sustain job creation, attract high‑value industries and build on the strong momentum already driving regeneration across Blackpool and the wider Fylde Coast.”
Blackpool Council’s Silicon Sands masterplan aims to create a digital and technology campus for internet reliant businesses, tapping into Blackpool’s position near the Celtix-Connect2 cable which provides a third of the world’s internet across the UK, USA and northern Europe at ultra-fast speeds.
The data centres will make the area more attractive for businesses which require access to high speed and low latency data, such as advanced manufacturing, gaming, telehealth and medical technology industries, which will lead to mass job creation.
Councillor Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, added: “This is a major step forward for our plans at Silicon Sands and a significant financial commitment from SP Electricity North West.
“Silicon Sands is a key part of Blackpool Council’s plan to make Blackpool better for the people who live here. The masterplan will take years to build, but the result could be thousands of highly paid jobs in growing industries for the people of Blackpool and the whole Fylde coast.
“We are committed to Silicon Sands not only creating thousands of jobs but tackling the climate crisis through renewable electricity generation and reusing the excess heat locally to help reduce bills. This initial investment will help kickstart the first developments, while we engage with ways to increase the amount of renewable energy available.”
As all the underground duct has been laid, teams will return later in the year to pull the electricity cable into place before connecting it to the network. While the build of the substation should be finished in early 2027.
SP Electricity North West and its delivery partners will keep customers, residents and businesses informed throughout the programme, with a dedicate web page of information – www.enwl.co.uk/blackpoolez.
