Key milestone for Freedom in £8M power supply upgrade for Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Our Freedom business has achieved a key milestone just four months into an £8 million power supply upgrade project in Southampton, on behalf of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). The design and construction of the first transformer has now been completed, marking a significant step toward energizing the newly upgraded North Baddesley infrastructure.

SSEN’s project will benefit 7,500 homes and businesses by making connections more resilient and increasing capacity. As the design and build contractor, Freedom is overseeing the phased delivery of the project, which is set to continue over the next fourteen months. This includes the design and reconstruction of an additional transformer and the undergrounding of five kilometres of overhead lines between North Baddesley and Rownhams.

Martin Tyler, SAP Project Manager, commented “SSEN and Freedom have been working closely together on this project. The work we're doing on the substation is really going to benefit the local community. We're increasing the capacity of the transformers from 15 MVA to 30 MVA, which not only provides more power but also enhances the security of our energy supply.”

Once completed, the upgrade will strengthen the network against increasingly adverse weather conditions, reducing the risk of power outages and expanding capacity. This additional capacity will support the integration of more low-carbon technologies into the grid—an essential step in SSEN’s journey towards net-zero emissions.