Northern Ireland-headquartered McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed by National Grid as the main contractor for the construction of a new Electricity Transmission Control Centre (ETCC) at Hams Hall in the Midlands.

The facility, being built on the site of National Grid's former 275kV substation, will provide a modern control environment to manage Britain's growing electricity transmission system. It will operate in parallel with National Grid’s existing Transmission Network Control Centre and run 24/7 to oversee the high-voltage network.

Work began in April 2025 with preparatory groundworks. Piling followed in July, establishing the building's foundations, and September saw the installation of the first steel structures. Completion is scheduled for 2028, when the control room is expected to go live.

Paul Griffen, Managing Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, recently joined Jon Davies, Director of Network Operations and Intelligence at National Grid, to mark the steelwork commencement milestone. To commemorate the occasion, both Paul and Jon signed a steel beam, symbolising this important step forward in the construction process.

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Paul Griffen said: "It's great to be at the site to celebrate the steel signing milestone with the project teams involved. We are committed to building this essential facility in collaboration with National Grid to enable the future energy needs of the UK to be met. Complex construction projects like this one highlight the capabilities of our talented employees to deliver outstanding results, not just in energy, but across various sectors.

"The development of a brand-new Electricity Transmission Control Centre marks an exciting new age for managing the complex and rapidly growing transmission network. Driven by a need to modernise and adapt to the country's changing energy needs, the facility will futureproof our grid's resilience and house the talented people responsible for operating our world-class transmission network for decades to come."

The ETCC brings together multiple control functions in one purpose-built space, helping National Grid manage the increasing complexity of the network as new power sources connect and demand patterns evolve. Alongside its operational role, the centre will provide highly skilled jobs during construction and in ongoing engineering roles.

Construction is also set to deliver wider benefits to the local area. The project is regenerating a brownfield site, targeting a 10% biodiversity net gain, and minimising embodied carbon in the build. National Grid will also support local organisations through its Community Grant Programme, which offers up to £20,000 to community groups and charities.