Project Overview
Aureos is delivering the AF Route, the first major scheme within SP Energy Networks' (SPENW) wider Cumbria Ring upgrade programme. The project forms part of SPENW largest-ever investment into the north west electricity network, with more than £1 billion being invested between 2023-28 to improve network resilience.
Stretching along Cumbria's west coast, from Lindal in Furness to Sellafield, the project will modernise critical electrical infrastructure by replacing ageing assets and creating the capacity needed to connect future renewable energy generation.
Sector:
Energy
Region:
North West England
Service:
Planning, Design & Onsite Delivery
Client:
SP Energy Networks
Delivering Critical Power Infrastructure
Across Challenging Terrain
The project route passes through remote rural locations, rugged landscapes and areas with restricted access, creating significant engineering and logistical challenges. Narrow country roads and limited access points require extensive planning to safely transport materials, specialist equipment and large cranes to site.
The project is also being delivered in a highly sensitive environmental setting. Much of the route lies close to the coastline and passes through habitats supporting protected species including ground nesting birds, natterjack toads, badgers, bats, barn owls, ospreys, dormice and great crested newts. Balancing construction activity with environmental protection has been a key consideration throughout delivery for Aureos.
How Aureos Is Modernising the
Cumbria West Coast Network
Aureos developed a phased delivery strategy to ensure the safe and efficient upgrade of the network while managing environmental and operational constraints.
The works include replacing 60 transmission towers, upgrading the foundations of a further 9 towers, strengthening existing structures and installing high-capacity conductors across the entire 152-tower route. Temporary trackways have been installed to access remote locations, while a hybrid of crane and helicopter tower replacement techniques have enabled the safe removal and reconstruction of structures across difficult terrain. Protective scaffolding has also been used where works cross highways and existing utilities. With up to 100 people working on site each day, the project draws on Aureos’ specialist engineering expertise, strong project management and close stakeholder collaboration to deliver a critical energy asset for the region.
Protecting Sensitive Environments
Environmental stewardship has been central to the delivery of the Cumbria Ring upgrade. Working closely with Natural England, the Environment Agency and environmental consultancy RSK, Aureos has implemented a robust environmental management strategy to minimise impacts on wildlife and habitats. The project team carries out ecological surveys before work begins, supported by a daily ecologist presence on site. Ecology constraints mapping, precautionary working method statements and practical mitigation measures, such as sandbagging trackways to protect wildlife, help ensure that work can progress safely and responsibly. In some locations, work has been rescheduled entirely to avoid disturbing nesting birds and other protected species.
Reducing Carbon Through Sustainable Materials
Sustainability has also been built into the materials used on the project. Aureos is installing specialist conductors supplied by Lamifil, which are manufactured using aluminium produced utilising renewable energy in Iceland and Norway. The metal is produced using geothermal energy, meaning with the heat from volcanic activity beneath the earth’s surface.
This innovative material is expected to save around 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ compared with conventional alternatives. As well as creating the network capacity needed to connect future renewable energy projects, the project is reducing carbon during construction, helping deliver a more sustainable outcome from the start.
Supporting Communities, Businesses and Renewable Energy Growth
The Cumbria Ring upgrade will deliver benefits far beyond the electricity network itself. By increasing capacity and improving resilience, the project will strengthen energy security for local communities and businesses, helping ensure a reliable power supply for enterprises across the region.
As the first major project within the wider Cumbria Ring programme, the AF Route is laying the foundations for future investment across Cumbria and helping create a stronger, more resilient electricity network for generations to come.
