A HUGE project to boost power supplies in Basingstoke has been finished by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The £1.1 million programme of work in the Down Grange area of Basingstoke ran in two phases. The first from August to November in 2020 and the second and final part was completed recently after a four-month summer schedule.

This latest project by SSEN boosts power supplies for the wider Hampshire area. It included the replacement of two large transformers at the substation in Down Grange. The modern and efficient equipment is designed to stand the test of time, helping keep the power flowing in the area for the next 60 years, a spokesman said.

The investment was made to accommodate the changing demands of homes and businesses as the area develops and grows, and as more of those living and working in Basingstoke take up low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.

SSEN’s forecasts from earlier this year estimate that by 2050, there will be over 35,000 electric vehicle chargepoints and 34,000 heat pumps installed in the Basingstoke area, up from roughly 1,100 and 630, respectively, in 2021. In nearby Reading, the forecasts estimate there being over 93,000 electric vehicles by 2050, up from roughly 500 in 2019.

Project manager Joseph Hurling said: "My team and I are delighted to have completed this project that provides a boost to the power supplies of our Basingstoke customers through a modern and efficient infrastructure; helping both residents and businesses to meet their net zero goals as they adopt low carbon technologies at their homes and work places.

“We would like to thank our local customers for their patience and understanding while we worked to build them a network fit for their needs now and for many years to come.”