Scotland

Dalmarnock Substation charges ahead

A new substation is being built at Dalmarnock in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The new indoor substation and equipment will allow for the removal and relocation of existing apparatus from an area that will become the Atheletes’ Village for the Games. Works on the 275KV substation began in October 2010 and are expected to be complete in December 2012.

A substation is a component of an electricity transmission or distribution system that facilitates the transformation of voltage from high to low (or vice versa) using transformers. In order to minimise the capital and operating costs of the system, the transmission substation transforms the voltage to a level suitable for transporting electric power over long distances. Once the power has been transported to where it is needed, a distribution substation transforms the voltage to a level suitable for the distribution system. NKT Cables are supplying and installing high voltage cables on the project.

A substation does not generate electricity; it simply converts the power transmitted through existing transmission lines to lower distribution voltages for use in homes and businesses.

The £25m building was designed by ScottishPower Power Systems and construction works have been carried out by main contractors Iberdrola. Funding for the project came from Scottish Power’s investment programme.

Comprising approximately 550m² of floor space, the two-storey steel frame structure is clad with Kingspan cladding. Landscaping will include a car parking area that is in keeping with the existing substation.

Tony Hagan, Iberdrola, explained: “The project comprises two parts: the new building and the installation of extensive high voltage cables in the area. The new development will contain both control equipment and new electrical equipment that will connect to the existing HV networks. Interestingly, the building has also incorporated flood prevention technologies – essentially it is a steel building on stilts – in order to create a bespoke design that protects the equipment that we are housing.

“Works are progressing very well and we are extremely pleased to have worked on such a high profile project that will make important provisions for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

The Dalmarnock Substation is part of a multi-million pound investment by ScottishPower Energy Networks to connect the 2014 Commonwealth Games City Legacy Homes and reinforce electricity supplies in the wider Cambuslang and Rutherglen areas.

Craig MacDougall, SP Energy Networks Major Projects Managers, said: “This is a significant project that will help to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to allow the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to be a success.

“Not only will it mean that the 6,500 athletes visiting Glasgow in a few years time will be able to feel at home, it will also supply the hundreds of permanent houses in the new neighbourhood that will exist after the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and reinforce the long-term reliability of supplies in the wider area.

“We have been working very closely with Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council to plan this major upgrade. Although there will be traffic management schemes in operation, we are working hard to complete the project as quickly as possible and without the need for full road closures.”

Athletes’ Village

On 9th September 2010, Glasgow City Council approved the City Legacy Consortium’s planning application for the first phase of the Athletes’ Village for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Athletes’ Village, located in close proximity to the River Clyde, will accommodate approximately 7,000 athletes in more than 1,000 new permanent housing units.

The masterplan proposes a new inner city housing neighbourhood for Glasgow and has maximised the re-use of brownfield land for residential development. Once the Games are complete, it is set to be the largest and most ambitious of the new neighbourhood projects that are being developed in the city.

The new residential community will include 304 private homes, 400 homes for rent and a new 120-bed elderly care home. Leisure and retail units, community buildings, transport connections, local facilities and amenities and green spaces are also part of the plans that are being developed.

It is proposed that the entire Village will be car free with a looped bus service that will use electric vehicles. In addition, it will also have its own extensive transport mall, providing regular and frequent bus access to all of the Games venues.

The site is directly adjacent to the proposed National Indoor Sports Arena and the National Veledrome, which will allow competitors to walk to two of the largest competition venues.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

The first Commonwealth Games was held in 1930, setting the gold standard for international multi-sport events. In addition to many Olympic sports, the Games also include several sports that are mainly played in Commonwealth countries, including rugby sevens, netball and lawn bowls.

The Games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities.

At the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, seventeen sports will be played over eleven days of competition. These sports will include everything from badminton, squash and weightlifting to hockey and aquatics.

One of the key strengths of the Glasgow 2014 bid was that the city already had 70% of the planned venue infrastructure in place. In addition, Glasgow has a strong sporting tradition and has undergone something of an economic and cultural renaissance in recent years. Indeed, the editor of US travel magazine ,Frommer’s, voted Glasgow one of the top ten must-see, up-and-coming destinations for 2006. Moreover, Glasgow was the only UK destination listed in the ‘Top 10 cities’ section of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009.

In order to ensure safe and effective transport for athletes and spectators during the Games, the road networks are being improved. The extension to the M74 will be a huge boost to the city, whilst the East End Regeneration Route – which will connect the M74 and M8 in the East End of the city will also provide excellent transport links for the Games and beyond.

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