SSEN Distribution is set to carry out a major upgrade to Perth city centre's electricity network to improve the reliability of supplies and support the Fair City's decarbonisation goals.

The programme, scheduled to run for three months from Monday 20 April, includes replacing over 300 metres of existing underground cables and a package of upgrades and equipment replacement at the Guard Vennel substation.

Due to the location of the works, Guard Vennel — one of the pedestrian routes linking High Street and Mill Street — will be closed throughout. SSEN says it will protect the area's high-quality paving, reinstating the surface with matching bespoke monoblocs already delivered to its Perth depot, and restoring the vennel to an even higher standard once the cable has been installed.

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SSEN Distribution's Project Manager, Chris Dodds, said: "We're committed to providing a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity to our customers all year round, and this project will not only help to boost the resilience of supplies for our existing customers, it's also been designed with an eye on the future, particularly the expansion of homes and businesses in Perth city centre.

"By upgrading our underground cables and equipment in the substation we're not only making the network in this part of Perth city centre stronger to minimise the risk of power cuts, we're also increasing network capacity. This will support local homes and businesses as they make the move over to low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps."

Advance signage has been put up to inform pedestrians of the temporary closure and upcoming traffic management.

Mark Westwood, SSEN Distribution's Customer Relationship Manager, said: "For the safety of pedestrians and our teams on site, the Guard Vennel footpath will be closed for the duration of these works. In addition, there will also be temporary traffic signals in operation on Mill Street between 11-25 May.

"We realise that any time we're carrying out our essential work on roads and footpaths can also have the potential to disrupt customers' day-to-day routines, and so we'd like to thank customers for their patience while we improve the network on their behalf."