Award-winning substation is going places!

Its a beauty! This substation close to the birthplace of tourism pioneer Thomas Cook has been commended for its tasteful design.

The substation at Melbourne, Derbyshire was initially opposed by local people who were worried about how it would fit in to its historic setting but has since been praised by the towns Civic Society.  In the Societys Civic Awards 2019, the substation was commended following our successful efforts to integrate it into its surroundings.  Members of the Civic Society were won over by our determination to find the right location, design and materials.

Technician Andy Stanley said: We spent ages trying to find the right site and coming up with a design that would fit in with the street scene, which meant it had to be brick-built.  We worked with the builders to match the bricks, soffits and tiles with neighbouring houses to make sure it was in keeping with its surroundings.

Substation housings are usually constructed from GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) which is a cheaper solution and easier to maintain. Routine inspections of the new brick-built substation will include maintenance such as re-varnishing the gates and clearing the gutters.

Melbourne Civic Society praised the effortto reduce its impact by siting it to the rear of the plot, using quality doors and fittings, and replicating several details, including brickwork, from the adjacent buildings.

The substation serves 262 customers.

The new substation has been named after Thomas Cook, the travel pioneer, who was born nearby.