SP Electricity North West has begun a £7.5 million investment programme to upgrade the power network in Blackpool, Lancashire, as part of a move to support the town’s growing digital and technology sectors.
The project involves building a new primary substation near Blackpool Airport and follows the successful completion of initial underground cable work. Phase one, which finished previously, included laying 5.6km of underground ducting using directional drilling to ensure the protection of the town’s heritage tram lines. Construction on the new substation began in spring 2026, with the entire infrastructure project expected to be finished by early 2027.
This power upgrade is intended to support the Silicon Sands masterplan, a large technology campus at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. The campus aims to attract businesses in fields like data hosting and high-performance computing. To function, the site requires a significant increase in electricity capacity to meet the demands of modern digital infrastructure. The area is strategically placed near the landing point for the CeltixConnect-2 subsea fibre-optic cable, which handles a substantial portion of global internet traffic.
For local businesses, the infrastructure work is designed to improve the resilience of the power network and reduce the risk of service disruptions. This investment complements wider development efforts by Blackpool Council, which has committed £54 million to expand the Enterprise Zone as part of a larger programme to support thousands of jobs. With 2,700 jobs already created in the zone and further expansion planned, the improved power grid is expected to provide the stability needed to help local companies grow and encourage new investment in the community.
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