Chesterfield to Willington – Notice of planned ground investigations

We have been informed of the following information from National Grid:

We’re writing to let you know about planned ground investigation (GI) works that will take place at a number of locations across the route of the proposed Chesterfield to Willington Project within the Project boundary (presented as the draft Order Limits at Stage 2 consultation).

From June 2026 and over the next 12-18 months, we will undertake a range of surveys to further inform the routeing and design for the Project. The surveys will help us assess potential impacts and identify any constraints. This will allow us to explore ways to minimise negative environmental effects and find opportunities to improve the environment as part of the Project design. 

The surveys are known as ‘intrusive’ surveys, meaning that they involve methods that physically go beneath the ground to gather information about the soil, rock, groundwater, potential archaeology or underground conditions. The borehole and trial pit surveys will be carried out by our specialist contractors.

The attached factsheet (which we have provided to landowners) outlines information on the types of surveys we may undertake, including what they look like and their purpose. 

We will work with landowners to agree access arrangements. Our working hours are weekdays between 7am to 7pm. All staff car parking will be located within the work area, or at offsite locations, and we’ll use designated accesses. Equipment will be secured on-site when works aren’t taking place, and the land will be reinstated after the surveys have taken place.

Following the Stage 2 consultation, the Project team is carefully reviewing all feedback received. In addition to the consultation, these investigations form an essential part of developing this Project. The works are part of a long-term, carefully managed programme that will help inform the Project’s final design, while supporting our aim to meet the target operational date of 2031. Should any additional locations be identified through consultation responses that require ground investigation works, we will add these to the programme.