National Grid Electricity Transmission has signed an agreement to acquire roughly 29.5 hectares of land at Dorman Point within the Teesworks industrial estate, the site earmarked for a new high‑voltage substation.

The substation will operate at 400 kV and is contracted to provide more than 1 GW of import and export capacity, supporting a major data‑centre development on the former Redcar steelworks site.

National Grid submitted an outline planning application (reference R/2026/0711/OOM) to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in September 2026, a prerequisite before construction can begin.

The indicative programme foresees a detailed‑design public consultation in spring 2027, a further planning application thereafter, and possible land remediation and construction starting in autumn or winter 2027, subject to approvals.

The preferred design calls for an indoor substation using gas‑insulated switchgear that avoids sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), a potent greenhouse gas, potentially reducing the site footprint.

The substation will connect to the existing 400 kV Lackenby–Norton overhead line, forming part of a broader electricity system that could also serve a future battery storage facility and other energy‑intensive users on the estate.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has highlighted the wider Teesworks site’s potential to host up to 3.2 GW of power capacity, a figure distinct from the substation’s contracted 1 GW, positioning the region for AI and cloud‑computing operators.