UK Power Networks has refurbished the Finsbury Market substation in central London, committing £483,000 to the project in order to extend the working life of equipment already on site.
The installation, close to Liverpool Street, holds a pair of transformers that were improved under the programme, with a fresh coat of paint among the work carried out. The operator says the upgrade is intended to reinforce supplies and raise reliability for the businesses and residents served by the local electricity network, both now and in the years ahead.
The interior work took place alongside a separate change to the compound's boundary. Its red-brick perimeter wall became a canvas for street art, with Global Street Art — described as one of Europe's leading producers of hand-painted advertising and public art murals — bringing the surface to life. Street artist Nelio Riga used the wall as the backdrop for the piece.
Chanelle Mistry, project manager at UK Power Networks, said the spending was renewing vital infrastructure. Refurbishing and maintaining the two transformers would help reinforce the local electricity network and raise reliability for the many businesses and residents who rely on it daily and into the future, she said. She added that while the plant had been upgraded behind the scenes, the company was also glad to see the outside of the site reworked with a new artwork that would help lift the appearance of the surrounding area.
Dr Lee Bofkin, co-founder of Global Street Art, said working with UK Power Networks and Broadgate Quarter on such a significant and prominent site had been a pleasure, and that it advanced the organisation's long-running aim of living in painted cities. He thanked UK Power Networks and the others involved for their commitment to the project, adding that he walks past the walls often, as do many other people, and that it was good to see the work so well received.