Construction Hub

What happens: Site offices, worker welfare units, security fencing and temporary roads are put in place. Safety systems and traffic plans are agreed.

What you'll see: Construction trailers, fencing, signage and delivery activity.

Why it matters: Creates a safe, organised base for the whole project.

What happens: Engineers mark out where buildings, foundations and equipment will go.

What you'll see: Survey teams with tripods and markers on the ground.

Why it matters: Ensures everything is built in the right place.

What happens: Ground is levelled, access roads and crane pads are made, and drainage installed.

What you'll see: Earth-moving machines, trucks and temporary drainage channels.

Why it matters: Prepares the site for heavy equipment and protects against water issues.

What happens: Concrete foundations are cast for buildings and transformers, and cable trenches/ducts are installed.

What you'll see: Concrete pours, rebar, and open trenches covered when work isn't happening.

Why it matters: Strong foundations are critical for safety and longevity.

What happens: The valve hall, control building and other structures are built and made weather-tight.

What you'll see: Steel frames, roofing works, and finished walls and doors.

Why it matters: Provides protected space for sensitive electrical equipment.

What happens: Grounding systems and lightning protection are installed; final fencing and hardstandings completed.

What you'll see: External crews laying metal conductors and installing fence lines.

Why it matters: Protects people and equipment from electrical faults and lightning.

What happens: Transformers, reactor tanks and converter modules are delivered and lifted into place.

What you'll see: Large deliveries, cranes and carefully choreographed lifts (often on specified delivery days).

Why it matters: These are the site's largest and most critical installations.

What happens: Equipment is mechanically secured, grouted and connected to cooling and oil systems; tanks are filled and checked for leaks.

What you'll see: Specialist technicians working around major equipment and running fluid tests.

Why it matters: Ensures equipment is ready for electrical work.

What happens: Busbars, switchgear, and major power connections inside the buildings are installed.

What you'll see: Electricians, cable trays, and panel work inside the buildings.

Why it matters: These connections allow the station to receive and distribute power.

What happens: Underground cables are joined and terminated to the equipment.

What you'll see: Jointing huts, specialist crews and test equipment.

Why it matters: Correct joints and terminations are vital for reliable power transfer.

What happens: UPS, batteries, HVAC, fire systems, relay cabinets, fibre optic and control hardware are installed.

What you'll see: Control rooms being fitted out and technicians testing communications.

Why it matters: These systems keep the station running and monitored safely.

What happens: Insulation, continuity, polarity and relay tests are performed to verify installations.

What you'll see: Test equipment, engineers carrying out checks and recording results.

Why it matters: Identifies issues early so they can be fixed before energisation.

What happens: Station service systems and transformers are energised step by step under controlled conditions and with grid operator coordination.

What you'll see: Brief planned outages or switching operations managed by the system operator.

Why it matters: Marks the moment the station becomes electrically live.

What happens: Converter control systems are brought online, DC tests performed, and performance checks carried out under load.

What you'll see: Engineers conducting live tests and carefully monitored power transfers.

Why it matters: Ensures the station operates correctly and reliably at its intended capacity.

What happens: Operator training, delivery of manuals and as-built drawings, and resolution of any remaining minor issues.

What you'll see: Training sessions and document handovers with the local operator team.

Why it matters: Prepares the local team to operate and maintain the station safely.

What happens: Temporary facilities are removed, the site is tidied and any temporary works are reinstated or landscaped.

What you'll see: Removal of trailers, final fencing, and restored access routes.

Why it matters: Leaves the site in its final, agreed condition.

What happens: Site compounds, traffic management, temporary welfare, delivery/laydown areas and safety measures.

What you'll see: Site trailers, signage, delivery traffic and temporary roadworks.

Why it matters: Establishes a safe, organised base for the works.

What happens: Verification of the route, setting-out of trenches, joint bays and HDD entry/exit points.

What you'll see: Survey teams, markers and wayleave signage.

Why it matters: Ensures the cable is installed along the agreed route.

What happens: Targeted clearance, protected-species mitigation and temporary fencing where required.

What you'll see: Small crews removing vegetation and protective fencing; environmental monitors on site.

Why it matters: Protects habitats and species during the works.

What happens: Open trenches and ducting installed, or preparation for trenchless works (HDD) at crossings.

What you'll see: Excavators, stacking of spoil, and ducting being laid or HDD rigs being mobilised.

Why it matters: Creates the route the cable will be laid into.

What happens: Trenchless crossings under roads, rivers or coastal areas are drilled and reamed ready for cable pull-through.

What you'll see: HDD rigs, mud recycling units and enclosed worksites at entry/exit pits.

Why it matters: Minimises surface disturbance at sensitive crossings.

What happens: Drums or reels are delivered, stored on prepared mats and inspected before jointing/pulling.

What you'll see: Large cable drums, escorted deliveries and careful handling teams.

Why it matters: Protects the cable before installation.

What happens: Cables are pulled into ducts or laid into trenches and temporarily protected; joint bays left for splicing.

What you'll see: Cable pulling crews, winches, temporary joint huts and traffic management for roadside works.

Why it matters: Places the cable ready for jointing.

What happens: Skilled teams perform heat-shrinks/resin joints and make terminations at landfall and the station. Works are highly controlled and weather-sensitive.

What you'll see: Jointing huts/tents, specialist engineers and test equipment.

Why it matters: Reliable joints are essential for safe power transfer.

What happens: Trenches are backfilled, ducts grouted/filled where needed and surfaces reinstated (tarmac, grass, pavements).

What you'll see: Compactors, topsoil, and reinstatement crews returning the route to its agreed condition.

Why it matters: Restores the land after installation.

What happens: Insulation/DC withstand tests, sheath continuity/earthing checks, partial discharge/TDR and joint acceptance tests.

What you'll see: Test engineers, trailers with test equipment and short, planned access restrictions.

Why it matters: Confirms the cable is ready to energise.

What happens: Final terminations energised in coordination with the station/grid operator and monitored under controlled conditions.

What you'll see: Brief planned switching operations and engineering teams monitoring test runs.

Why it matters: Brings the cable into service.

What happens: Final inspections, as-built records handed over, environmental checks and removal of temporary facilities.

What you'll see: Demobilised plant, site tidy and restored public access.

Why it matters: Completes the works and returns the route to normal use.