North Hyde Feasibility Study

case study TYPE & VOLTAGE

3 x 66kV HV Cable Circuits + Additional Scope Post Fire

location

United Kingdom

scope

Cable Rating, Routing. Feasibility

asset owner

Scottish Southern Electricity Networks

works subcontracted

All works completed in-house

North Hyde Feasibility Study

challenge

A substation fire mid-feasibility forced a significant redesign of a congested 66kV cable routing.

Groundline was appointed to deliver feasibility design for five new 132kVrated cable circuit incomers (operating at 66kV) connecting existing AIS switchgear to a proposed new 23-way 132kV GIS switchboard at North Hyde BSP Substation. During feasibility, a significant fire damaged several pieces of apparatus and required the GIS switchgear to be relocated to a different building - fundamentally changing the cable routing requirements and adding scope midproject.

SOLUTION

Groundline absorbed the additional scope, redesigned the affected routes, and deployed on-site engineering support to manage a highly congested underground environment.

The revised cable routes were identified as running through a heavily congested area of existing underground infrastructure, requiring a GPR survey to capture depths, locations, and routes of existing services before design could be finalised. Groundline produced a full suite of deliverables across both the original and revised scope, including cable rating and terminations reports, route and profile drawings, joint bay layouts, bonding schedules, induced voltage and EMF assessments, buried services assessments, installation methodology, and detailed design estimates. Design engineers with construction experience attended site to provide direct input on construction risks and practical routing challenges.

impact

Continuous design support through a live and evolving project, keeping feasibility on track despite unplanned scope change.

By responding quickly to the post-fire redesign requirement and maintaining momentum through site attendance and additional cable design, Groundline enabled the project to progress without losing programme. The GPR survey approach de-risked the congested new route, and the combination of design capability and on-site engineering presence ensured the client had practical, buildable solutions as the substation layout continued to evolve. The project remains ongoing as of April 2025.

Let’s Get to Work.