Ofgem approves £642.1m for Bramford to Twinstead grid reinforcement
ENERGY · ENGLAND
Published 20th October 2026 · Ofgem announcement: 19th October 2026
Ofgem has approved £642.1 million of costs for National Grid Electricity Transmission’s Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement, supporting additional electricity transmission capacity between Suffolk and Essex.
What has been approved
The regulatory decision covers 18km of new overhead line, 11km of underground cable, a new Twinstead Green substation and improvements at Bramford. Ofgem reduced NGET’s £702.7m request by £60.6m following scrutiny.
This is an approved network cost allowance, not a council grant or a direct payment from Ofgem. Transmission owners finance construction upfront, with efficient costs recovered through regulated revenues and network charges.
Current delivery status
National Grid’s construction update describes access roads and a temporary haul road developed during the first half of 2026, continuing Twinstead Green substation work and the first gantries at Bramford. Its autumn programme includes cable deliveries and underground works, with overhead-line construction increasing. This is infrastructure in delivery, not a newly operational connection.
Why this matters
Ofgem says the reinforcement will help accommodate regional low-carbon generation and reduce the need to constrain output when network capacity is insufficient. The £60.6m figure is a reduction in requested project costs; it should not be read as a cash saving already received by councils or households.
Net Zero News perspective: public-estate teams planning electric heating, charging or generation should distinguish progress on the transmission network from confirmation of capacity at their own premises. A regional upgrade is useful context, but project decisions still need site-specific connection evidence.
Next steps for project owners
Keep local connection discussions alongside building and fleet plans. Check delivery dependencies and obtain a confirmed connection offer rather than assuming this announcement fixes a particular site’s capacity constraint. Local stakeholders can follow National Grid’s construction updates for works and access arrangements.
Sources: Ofgem decision announcement, 19th October 2026; National Grid construction update; Ofgem project assessment. Sources checked 20th October 2026.