£7.5m investment programme set to strengthen Blackpool’s electricity network

A major investment programme aimed at upgrading Blackpool’s electricity infrastructure is progressing, with SP Electricity North West preparing to begin construction of a new 33kV substation as part of a wider £7.5 million scheme across the town.

The new substation, which will be built on land near Blackpool Airport, is expected to play a key role in supporting future development linked to the Silicon Sands masterplan within the Blackpool Enterprise Zone.

As part of the project, engineers have already installed more than 5km of underground ducting across the area. The work required specialist construction techniques to ensure the town’s historic tramway infrastructure was protected during installation.

The wider upgrade is designed to increase electricity capacity throughout Blackpool while ensuring the network can support long-term economic growth, regeneration projects and future employment opportunities.

Ian Lillis, project manager at SP Electricity North West, described the scheme as a major step in enabling the next phase of development at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

He said the combination of new infrastructure and the purpose-built substation would provide the additional power capacity needed to unlock projects such as Silicon Sands, helping attract high-value industries and support continued regeneration across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.

Blackpool Council’s Silicon Sands masterplan aims to establish a digital and technology-focused campus designed for data-intensive businesses. The site benefits from proximity to the Celtix-Connect2 transatlantic cable, which carries a significant proportion of global internet traffic between the UK, the United States and northern Europe.

The development is intended to attract sectors requiring ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity, including advanced manufacturing, gaming, telehealth and medical technology businesses. The council believes the project could ultimately create thousands of skilled jobs across the region.

Councillor Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said the investment represented an important milestone for the Silicon Sands vision and highlighted the scale of commitment being made to the area’s future growth.

He added that the long-term ambition is not only to create high-quality employment opportunities, but also to support environmental goals through renewable energy generation and the reuse of excess heat from future facilities to help lower local energy costs.

With the underground ducting phase now complete, engineers are expected to return later this year to install and connect the electricity cables. Construction of the new substation is scheduled for completion in early 2027.