Diversion of Strategic Infrastructure – Project Management for Strategic Residential Development
After successfully negotiating a financial contribution towards the diversion of a 132kV line across an 800 unit strategic development site, BTS project managed the technical delivery of the works, to ensure that it met with the requirements of the client’s masterplan programme.
Background
- 75 hectares of agricultural land
- Outline planning permission for 800 residential dwellings, primary school and local centre
- 132kV double circuit overhead electricity line on steel lattice pylons
- Phased development with multiple landowners
- Extensive country park provision as part of development
Challenges
- Overhead lines constraining development due to loss of land
- 400kV National Grid line running parallel with 132kV
- Road crossing required as part of the diversion options
- Challenging topography
- Limited space for underground cable and other services
- Multiple service crossing
- Limited space for overhead line maintenance
- Diversion works to take place at the same time as development works
- 3rd party land complications and adjacent development to be delivered at similar time
- Visual impact of termination pylons significant
Solution
- Cable route identified that would avoid clashes with NG safety restrictions.
- Feasibility Study to establish outage options that would minimise 3rd party negotiations
- Contractual review and input to protect Developer’s position upon agreeing the diversion works and preparation of clear plans identifying proposed diversion works.
- Detailed design to establish most feasible option that would limit land take, minimise visual impact, and provide necessary safety allowances / maintenance rights needed by DNO.
- Worked with Design Team to establish most efficient and technically deliverable cable route options
- Phased programme put together that would dovetail with master programme
- Liaison and negotiation with DNO throughout the feasibility and design process
- Risk factors identified and managed
Result
- 132kV to be undergrounded
- Agreed Detailed design that fed into the planning submissions
- Draft legal documents that reflected latest design
- Preparation of programme that met critical path.
- Cost monitoring of proposed diversion and review of cost build of proposed diversion
- Diversion planned to proceed Qtr 4 2022 in line with Development programme.