Insider Media Limited

Warwickshire-based Morgan Sindall has been awarded a five-year substation contract extension by National Grid.

Electricity Alliance Central (EAC), a consortium made up of the construction company, ABB and Atkins, have been appointed by the Warwick-based power giant to work on major enhancements to the UK's electrical transmission infrastructure.

These enhancements will primarily involve the design, construction and commissioning of 400kv and 275kv transmission substations.

Individual contracts will continue to be awarded during the five-year extension, running until 2016, based on "project scope, geographical considerations, continual delivery and cost assessment", Morgan Sindall said. It is not possible because of this to place a value on the agreement, the company added.

Chief executive Paul Smith said: "We are excited by this opportunity to continue to work alongside our Electricity Alliance Central partners to deliver complex substation projects which play a vital role in delivering high voltage transmission infrastructure in the Midlands and North West England."

The EAC was established in 2006 as one of National Grid's preferred alliance partners for substation development and construction projects. It operates in the company's central region, comprising the Midlands, Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

This original award was part of a programme worth up to £2.8bn to upgrade and develop the electricity transmission network across England and Wales.