UK Power Networks has dismantled three electricity towers in Mid Sussex to enable continued delivery of a new community at Brookleigh, a flagship new development being delivered to the north of Burgess Hill.

Overhead electricity lines and towers by the A2300 were replaced with 1km of underground cables to prepare for the Brookleigh development. Another tower is scheduled for removal next year at the local electricity grid during construction of a substation for the development.

Led by the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England, the development will deliver 3,500 homes, including affordable housing, schools, parks, and new community infrastructure.

Capital programme delivery teams at UK Power Networks coordinated consents, access and excavations to safely divert the 132,000-volt electricity circuits underground. Work included a trenchless technique to install the cables under the A2300, preventing any traffic impact.

After de-energising the overhead lines, the cables were gradually lowered, then the towers were dismantled and all the metal was recycled.

Neil Miller, head of development (south) at Homes England, said: “The removal of these towers greatly improves the visual environment locally and creates a gateway for Brookleigh as residents move into new homes. This important infrastructure delivered early in the development is possible due to partnership working which allows us to work with our developer partners to make land available to build new homes and supporting amenities at pace.”

Saadat Hussain, senior project manager at UK Power Networks, said: “We are delighted to work in collaboration with Homes England to help realise their plans for a sustainable new community in Burgess Hill. Removing the towers has transformed the skyline at the entrance to the town and enables the next stage of the project.”

UK Power Networks removed 6,000-metres of overhead line along a 1km section of the network, dismantling structures that had dominated the skyline since the 1930s. A new termination tower was constructed to enable the power lines to be diverted underground.

In the second phase of work, UK Power Networks has started building a new primary substation alongside its existing grid site to support the new community. Work is underway and the new substation is due to be energised in 2028.

UK Power Networks maintains the network of cables, substations, and power lines that deliver electricity to 8.5 million homes and businesses across the South East, London, and East of England. The company also designs and delivers tailored new and altered electricity connections for developers, companies and homeowners across those regions.