£4m Upgrades Begin on East Lancashire Power Network

Electricity North West has begun a £4 million upgrade of the East Lancashire power network, replacing 6 kilometers of underground cables and upgrading assets at a substation in Nelson. This work on the 33,000-volt network aims to future-proof the infrastructure across Burnley and Nelson, enhancing reliability and resilience while supporting the adoption of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicle charging. The project will benefit more than 39,000 homes and businesses and is expected to last 12 months, with work progressing through several streets and coordinated with local authorities. Separately, Wessex Internet, a rural-focused ISP, has secured a £50 million investment from the National Wealth Fund to expand its full fibre broadband network in Southern England. This funding will increase coverage from 40,000 to 137,000 rural premises, supporting areas historically underserved and bolstering local economic development. Both initiatives represent significant infrastructure investments aimed at improving utility reliability and digital connectivity in underserved regions.