We are committed to being a good neighbour to the local communities in which we work and operate.

Over the course of the project, our community relations team will keep people informed of our works, respond quickly to any queries and help support local good causes and the environment.

EGL1 Community Benefit Fund

EGL1 is one of the first three electricity transmission projects in the UK to be given a dedicated Community Benefit Fund.

The £8 million Community Benefit Fund will support local communities in England and Scotland to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits, and will be split evenly between the two regions.

We want to ensure that communities gain the maximum possible benefit from this fund and are actively engaging with local communities and representatives, to ensure that initiatives respond to local needs and maximise benefits for local communities and the wider regions.

As a business regulated by Ofgem, we must deliver best value for consumers and the communities we serve. We will be transparent in our approach, reporting on the impacts that our funding delivers.

Community Benefit Fund in England

We are using some of the fund available in England to establish a Local Community Fund, which is now open for applications. This fund is operated by National Grid Electricity Transmission and has been created by working closely with charitable organisations and community members to make sure it meets local need.

Grants of up to £20,000 are available to fund projects that address local community needs in one or more of the following themes:

  • Providing education and Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) opportunities
  • Protecting the environment and ensuring access to green spaces 
  • Improving community spaces and saving energy
  • Helping with the cost of living and supporting employability 
  • Encouraging physical health and activity 
  • Supporting mental health and wellbeing 

Grant funding is available during our construction period, which is expected to complete in 2029. Click here to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

Separate to this local fund, we are working to build strategic partnerships and programmes that deliver lasting social, environmental and economic benefits across the region.

Community Benefit Fund in Scotland

In Scotland, local communities have told us that they would like to work in partnership to align initiatives and programmes with their priorities, rather than see a local grant fund established. Our Community Benefit initiatives and programmes in Scotland will be operated by ScottishPower Energy Networks. We will be working to build partnerships and programmes that deliver lasting social, environmental and economic benefits for the local community and the wider area.

We know that our responsibility goes beyond safely building new energy infrastructure to enable a cleaner, fairer and affordable future. We want to leave a lasting positive impact in the areas where we build EGL1, helping communities thrive and supporting a sustainable future.