Welcome to the July 2025 newsletter from Lydon Contracting Ltd. We're proud of the work we do and want to share our latest news, useful information and staff updates.
All aboard!
Good progress continues at Metroline bus depot in Potters Bar with the excavation and reinstatement of the trench across the length of the concrete yard to install 18no ducts (10 power, 6 comms, 2 lighting) and the installation of new access chambers (1200mm x 1200mm x 1500mm deep) in concrete with D400 lids suitable for carrying the weight of the new buses.
All this carried out safely with minimum disruption and good co-ordination with the busy bus depot.
Green energy
Works commenced in early July on phase 2 of the civils infrastructure at Arriva Thurmaston, Leicester for the next 12 new EV charger units.
This will further increase the depots capacity to introduce additional electric buses on their journey of carbon footprint reduction.
Straight and narrow
This month we commenced the installation of a new 33kV ducted cable route supplying a new primary substation that will serve the large Dallington Grange development on the north side of Northampton.
The first phase of works along the verge on Mill Lane have progressed smoothly and reinstatement is now complete as we move into Gladstone Road.
Lydon Contracting have also been awarded the contract to construct the primary substation with works due to start later in August.
Power of the sun
Works at Norwich is progressing well where we are installing a twin 33kV circuit feeding a new Solar farm and BESS facility. This month the team encountered some known Special Engineering Difficulties (SEDs), firstly we had to install the ducts under a brick culvert which required temporary shoring to ensure safe working zone.
Following this we installed the ducting through a Victorian brick Network Rail (NR) bridge. Prior to any works commencing, an NR Basic Asset Protection Agreement (BAPA) had to be in place, as well as a 4-meter restriction zone on both East and West sides of the bridge, denoted by GS6 Goal Posts; past these points only a lightweight 5 Tonne excavator with a height restrictor could be used to excavate and reinstate.
With these successfully complete, we were able to install the cable connecting the Solar farm to the BESS facility, a total of over 14,500m of cable! Next month works will progress into the National Grid site where there are several more SEDs to contend with!
Professional standards
This month saw our SV1 NERS audit taking place on a new housing development at Valley Park, Didcot, where we were undertaking four independent cable installations on behalf of our client.
The audit covered site safety, personnel, vehicles and NERS compliance which involved the site paper trail, proof of competencies for all members of the working party, along with vehicle checks to ensure all safety and well-being characteristics were covered. This offered us the great opportunity to showcase our new App based NERS passports.
A practical assessment was also conducted on how we carry out open lay installation to specification on site which was displayed with confidence by our skilled team.
On the roof
Our office build is really taking shape, most recently we have started installing the integrated solar panels on our new roof. Once operational, the solar panels will generate around 64kW of energy which will be more than enough to provide green energy not only for our entire office, but also for keeping a new battery storage system topped up and for charging our growing fleet of electric vehicles.
In addition to these green initiatives our offices will be served by a new heat pump which will deal with heating and cooling our offices, enabling us to decommission our existing gas boiler system.
Team Building Takes Flight!
This month, our team soared to new heights—literally—during an exhilarating team-building event at the Oxford Gliding Club.
Most of our staff had the unforgettable opportunity to take to the skies, experiencing the thrill of gliding over the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside.
The day wrapped up with a relaxed and well-earned BBQ, where colleagues connected and shared stories from above.
Thanks for reading!
Cuttle Mill Nursery, Cuttle Mill Lane, Paulerspury, Towcester NN12 7LZ
info@lydoncontracting.com | 01327 811533 | www.lydoncontracting.com
Company Registration No. 3742284