Welcome to the January 2026 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 weather working
33kV / 11kV Primary Substation, Stevenage
Despite the gloomy weather, work has progressed well on a new primary substation we are constructing in Stevenage.
The 33kV transformer base slabs have been constructed for TX1 and TX2, the external bund walls are now being formed in readiness for the concrete pour next week.
33kV substation cabling works
Works commenced this month on phase 1 of the off-site cable route that will connect the new primary substation to the grid. The route is approximately 2.7km and we will be installing 2no. 33kV circuits and 2no. pilot cables.
The route will see us navigate under roundabouts and underpasses with the aid of no less than 8no. Horizontal Direction Drills (HDDs).
All aboard!
January saw works commence in North London for a new 11kV dual circuit that will provide power for the expansion of a London bus depot who are transitioning their bus fleet to 100% electric. The route is over 4km long with works scheduled to be completed by the end of the Summer 2026.
After carrying out trial holes along the route in November 2025, we began excavations at the UKPN substation end. Our first challenge has been installing the ducts under a railway line, though a tunnel. Given the congested nature of London (both above and below ground) we carried out these works over a weekend to minimise disruption to the public. Our vacuum excavator machine has been invaluable ensuring that we are working safely at all times and minimising the risks associated with such a congested route.
Our management team are having daily interaction with the council and residents to ensure permits are opened and closed in line with agreed dates (sometimes accelerated).
Power of the sun
Lydon Contracting have been engaged to construct a new 132 kV substation to provide a new connection for the Knowl Green Solar Farm in Essex. The scope of works includes a shared DNO and customer compound with TX bund, DNO control room and associated reinforced concrete bases for the 132kV electrical equipment.
As well as the substation compound, we are also installing a 1.4km 132kV and 11kV cable route back to the UKPN substation.
Mobilisation progressed well with the stripping of topsoil and reduce dig for the transformer bund and the DNO control room foundations. Given the wet weather we have experienced this month, this has slowed the team down due to constant de-watering of excavations. The formwork for the individual RC bases is now being installed with steel work ready for the first concrete pour scheduled for next week.
Strong foundations
Works at our Gloucester site where we are constructing a new EV charging hub have continued this month. While battling the relentless wet weather we have installed the precast EV Charger bases and associated ducting, we have installed majority of the on-site drainage and begun the ground make up of stone to FFL.
With the finished surface being permeable block paving and tarmac, the 500mm depth of aggregate fill will form a key component in the permeable drainage system as it acts as a holding tank.
Precast HB2 kerbs are being installed to the perimeter along with demarcation kerbs for the charging points. The next phase of works will be the installation of the permeable paving and asphalt and the S278 entrance area from the highway.
New beginnings
Over the past few years as we have grown, our office staff have worked out of the original Cuttle Mill Nursery building, supplemented by portable office buildings. Back in 2019 planning was approved to significantly expand the existing bungalow building to enable all staff to be housed in one building. Its been a long time coming (what with COVID-19) however we are proud to have moved into our fantastic new office building.
The spacious new office can accommodate all our senior management and support staff, and provide our site-based project managers and engineers with hot desk facilities. We also have meeting rooms to accommodate meetings with clients, regular project management meetings, and to provide facilities for training our staff. A separate welfare area, supplemented by a fully fitted kitchen gives our staff a space to have a break away from their desks. Externally we have completed majority of the hard landscaping, which will also eventually have spaces for staff to sit outside when the better weather comes! The building has been constructed with energy efficiency in mind and has been insulated to the latest building regulations. We have installed wall mounted air conditioning units in every office area, served by an external air source heat pump. The building is also fitted with a large photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installation capable of generating up to 60kW of clean electricity. This can be used to power the whole building and our workshop and still have capacity to charge integral battery storage. In time we will install EV charging facilities as we transition more of our fleet to electric power. We don’t expect to import much electricity from the grid, but if we do, this is sourced via our electricity supplier from zero carbon renewable energy sources or nuclear generation. We’re proud to say that the energy saving measures that we’ve incorporated into the building have resulted in negative CO2 emissions which gives our new building an Energy Performance Certificate of A+. In an industry that traditionally has a large carbon footprint, we are doing what we can to ensure that the energy efficient operation of our buildings contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
We look forward to welcoming clients and suppliers new and old to our new office.
On the buses
Works commenced in October to install associated infrastructure for EV chargers at a Bus Depot Wolverhampton. These works had been programmed in two phases (1a &1b) over a 12 week programme. These works have now been successfully delivered despite extreme weather conditions and a few design changes along the way. The works complete will now enable our client to commission 25no. double EV chargers. The finishing touches completed this month include the line marking for the buses and additional car parking bays.
Next month we will be re-mobilising to site to commence phase 2 of the electrification scheme which will see a further 24no EV charger bases, HV substation and LV panel foundation constructed.
Safety Stand Down 2026
In January we welcomed in the new year with our annual Safety Stand Down. The annual Safety Stand Down events were created to dedicate time and space for staff to collectively focus on safety awareness, reviewing working standards, share best practices, our Accreditations and engaging in open dialogue regarding potential hazards in the workplace.
The events emphasise a dedication by Lydon Contracting to adopt a culture of health, safety, quality, the environment, well-being, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the company.
Steve Reid (H.S.E.Q Manager) stated “It’s great to see so many of our colleagues attending our health and safety stand down events, making sure our teams work safely is always our top priority.
These events are a fantastic opportunity to take the team out of their usual environment and re-energise our focus on our safety culture”.
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